Fusilli with Meat Sauce
User Reviews
5
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Prep Time
10 mins
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Cook Time
20 mins
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Total Time
27 mins
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Servings
4 servings
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Calories
554 kcal
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
American
Fusilli with Meat Sauce
Description
This recipe starts by sautéing ground beef, diced onions, and minced garlic until the meat is fully browned and the onions are softened, draining off excess fat for a leaner sauce. Red wine or beef broth is added and simmered to concentrate flavor and reduce liquids. Then, marinara or pasta sauce is stirred in and cooked briefly to meld the components.
Meanwhile, fusilli pasta cooks in salted water until just al dente, retaining a pleasant bite. The pasta is added to the meat sauce and simmered for several minutes so the noodles absorb sauce flavor while warming thoroughly. The dish is finished with shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan cheese, which melt into the sauce for added richness and savory depth.
It's a flexible recipe allowing meat substitutions such as chicken, pork, or sausage and adjustments for missing ingredients like red wine or pasta sauce by using alternatives to preserve flavor.
Notes advise cooking pasta just until al dente since it will continue to cook in the sauce and provide suggestions for substituting ground meats and liquids.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef lean
- 1 small onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ cup red wine or beef broth
- 24 ounces marinara sauce or pasta sauce
- 8 ounces fusilli pasta or medium pasta
- ¼ cup mozzarella cheese shredded
- 2 tablespoons Parmesan Cheese grated
Instructions
- Brown beef, onion, and garlic in a deep skillet over medium-high heat until no pink remains. Drain fat.
- While the beef is browning, cook pasta in salted water just until al dente. Drain but do not rinse.
- Stir in red wine and Italian seasoning. Simmer until it evaporates about 3 minutes. Add sauce and simmer a few minutes more. Stir in cooked pasta and simmer an additional 2-3 minutes or until heated through.
- Top with cheeses and serve.
Notes
- Use any medium pasta such as penne, rotini, or bowtie if fusilli is unavailable.
- Cook pasta until just al dente as it will further cook in the sauce.
- Ground beef can be replaced by ground chicken, pork, or Italian sausage.
- Red wine substitution: use beef broth as an alternative.
- If no pasta sauce is on hand, combine tomato sauce with tomato paste and season with garlic and onion powder plus a pinch of sugar.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 4servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 554 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 554 | 28% |
| Carbohydrates | 55g | 18% |
| Protein | 33g | 66% |
| Fat | 20g | 31% |
| Saturated Fat | 8g | 40% |
| Cholesterol | 84mg | 28% |
| Sodium | 1055mg | 44% |
| Potassium | 1090mg | 23% |
| Fiber | 5g | 20% |
| Sugar | 10g | 20% |
| Vitamin A | 803IU | 16% |
| Vitamin C | 14mg | 16% |
| Calcium | 122mg | 12% |
| Iron | 5mg | 28% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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