Need an effortless, easy pasta recipe for your picky eaters? Need a quick weeknight meal recipe? Got about 30 minutes to get dinner on the table? Look no further. My quick and easy peasy pasta recipe for kids (and adults) will not disappoint!
Every now and then, our kids can get finicky about their food. They would love one dish one day and refuse to eat it the next. This can be so frustrating. Fortunately, there is a dish most kids will not refuse – Pasta!
There’s something about that sweet and savory tomato-saucy pasta dish that always agrees with them. I’m sure this easy peasy pasta dish with “no onions” will be a hit for your kids as well!!! Are you ready?!!
Let’s gather everything we need:
EASY PEASY PASTA INGREDIENTS
- 1lb of your dry pasta of choice
- Oil
- Half an onion — grated or finely diced
- 2 garlic cloves — grated or finely diced
- 1 lb ground meat of choice
- 1 heaping Tbsp Tomato Paste
- Large jar of Pasta Sauce — Rao’s is our favorite brand
- Sugar
- 1-2 Tbsp Balsamic Vinegar
- Parmesan Cheese — grated or shaved
- Salt
- Pepper
EASY PEASY PASTA INSTRUCTIONS
Step 1
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add a generous pinch of salt (think, ocean-water-salty). Now add your dry pasta of choice and cook according to its packaged instructions. As your pasta cooks, prepare your onion, garlic, and parmesan cheese and set them aside. When pasta is ready, save about 1-2 cups of pasta water (that starchy water will help bind your pasta and sauce later), set it aside, and drain your pasta. Set your drained and cooked pasta to the side. (Depending on your stove and pasta, this whole process will take anywhere between 15-20 minutes. To help save time, make your sauce while your pasta is cooking.)
Step 2
Heat 2-3 tablespoons of oil in a large frying pan on medium-high heat. Sautee onion with a pinch of salt until translucent (1-2 minutes). Add garlic and saute until fragrant (no more than 1 minute). Add ground meat and cook until brown (4-5 minutes). Add a pinch of salt and pepper while the meat is cooking. Break up the lumps of meat while stirring and browning/cooking the meat. I like my wooden spoon for this part. Less chance of scratching your pan!
Step 3
When your meat is nice and browned, add tomato paste and cook for about 1 minute. Now add your pasta sauce, a small pinch of sugar to break the acidity, and a tablespoon or two of balsamic vinegar to bring all the flavors together. Bring to a boil. Reduce your heat to low and let it simmer for about 10-15 minutes. Keep an eye on it and stir occasionally. Your sauce should start to thicken. If it is thicker than your liking, add some of that reserved pasta water. Season to taste.
Step 4
Time to mix it all up! Add your pasta to the sauce in your pan and mix everything together. For a creamier texture, you can add 1-2 tablespoons of butter and mix it well. Serve pasta in a shallow bowl and garnish with parmesan. Add a simple salad and you’ve got yourself a delicious, easy meal. Bon Appetit!
Easy Peasy Pasta for Kids (and Adults)
Equipment
- 1 Large pot
- 1 Large Sauce Pan
- 1 Grater or Vegetable Peeler
Ingredients
- 1 lb Dry pasta of choice
- Water
- 2-3 Tbsp Oil
- Half Onion — grated or finely diced
- 2 Garlic cloves — grated or finely diced
- 1 lb Ground meat of choice
- 1 Tbsp Tomato Paste – heaping tablespoon
- 1 Large jar of Pasta Sauce — Rao’s is our favorite brand
- Sugar
- 1-2 Tbsp Balsamic Vinegar
- Parmesan Cheese — grated or shaved
- Salt
- Pepper
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add a generous pinch of salt (think, ocean-water-salty). Now add your dry pasta of choice and cook according to its packaged instructions. As your pasta cooks, prepare your onion, garlic, and parmesan cheese and set them aside. When pasta is ready, save about 1-2 cups of pasta water (that starchy water will help bind your pasta and sauce later), set it aside, and drain your pasta. Set your drained and cooked pasta to the side. (Depending on your stove and pasta, this whole process will take anywhere between 15-20 minutes. To help save time, make your sauce while your pasta is cooking.)
- Heat 2-3 tablespoons of oil in a large frying pan on medium-high heat. Sautee onion with a pinch of salt until translucent (1-2 minutes). Add garlic and saute until fragrant (no more than 1 minute). Add ground meat and cook until brown (4-5 minutes). Add a pinch of salt and pepper while the meat is cooking. Break up the lumps of meat while stirring and browning/cooking the meat. I like my wooden spoon for this part. Less chance of scratching your pan!
- When your meat is nice and browned, add tomato paste and cook for about 1 minute.
- Now add your pasta sauce, a small pinch of sugar to break the acidity, and a tablespoon or two of balsamic vinegar to bring all the flavors together. Bring to a boil. Reduce your heat to low and let it simmer for about 10-15 minutes. Keep an eye on it and stir occasionally. Your sauce should start to thicken. If it is thicker than your liking, add some of that reserved pasta water. Season to taste.
- Time to mix it all up! Add your pasta to the sauce in your pan and mix everything together. For a creamier texture, you can add 1-2 tablespoons of butter and mix it well. Serve pasta in a shallow bowl and garnish with parmesan. Add a simple salad and you’ve got yourself a delicious, easy meal. Bon Appetit!
NOTE: If your family does not mind onion, you do not need to finely mince your onions. Just give it a roughly dice the onion.
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Stay healthy. Stay Warm. Stay Safe.
Peace & Blessings to you all!
Bahry & Family
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