Jul 14 2026
RestaurantsEnza's Italian RestaurantPenne With Meat Sauce, Meatball Or Sausage Recipe

Penne With Meat Sauce, Meatball Or Sausage Recipe

Time1h
Serves6

Make Penne With Meat Sauce, Meatball Or Sausage Recipe in just 1h . Get the full recipe with step-by-step instructions at pekinthechef.com.

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Ingredients

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Pasta

Meatballs (optional)

Method

Pasta Preparation

  1. 1

    Boil Water

    In a large pot, bring 4 quarts of water to a rolling boil.

  2. 2

    Cook Penne

    Add 1 pound of penne pasta and 1 tablespoon of salt to the boiling water. Cook according to package instructions until al dente, usually about 11-13 minutes.

  3. 3

    Drain Pasta

    Once cooked, drain the pasta in a colander and set aside.

Meat Sauce Preparation

  1. 4

    Cook Meat

    In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat. Add 1 pound of ground beef and 0.5 pounds of Italian sausage. Cook until browned, breaking up the meat with a spoon, about 7-10 minutes.

  2. 5

    Add Aromatics

    Add 1 chopped medium onion and 3 minced garlic cloves to the skillet. Sauté until the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes.

  3. 6

    Combine Sauce Ingredients

    Stir in 28 ounces of crushed tomatoes, 2 tablespoons of tomato paste, 1 teaspoon of dried oregano, 1 teaspoon of dried basil, 0.5 tablespoons of salt, and 0.5 tablespoons of black pepper. Bring to a simmer.

  4. 7

    Simmer Sauce

    Reduce heat to low and let the sauce simmer for about 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Meatball Preparation (optional)

  1. 8

    Mix Ingredients

    In a bowl, combine 0.5 pounds of ground beef, 0.5 cups of breadcrumbs, 0.25 cups of grated Parmesan cheese, 1 large egg, and 2 tablespoons of chopped parsley.

  2. 9

    Form Meatballs

    Shape the mixture into small meatballs, about 1 inch in diameter.

  3. 10

    Cook Meatballs

    In a separate skillet, heat some olive oil over medium heat. Cook the meatballs until browned on all sides and cooked through, about 10-12 minutes.

Final Assembly

  1. 11

    Combine Pasta and Sauce

    Add the drained penne pasta to the meat sauce. Stir well to coat the pasta evenly.

  2. 12

    Serve

    Plate the pasta and sauce. If using, add the cooked meatballs on top. Garnish with 0.5 cups of grated Parmesan cheese and 0.25 cups of chopped fresh basil.

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