One-Pot Tomato Basil Ground Beef Ragù

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are drafted and published.

A hearty and aromatic ragù made by simmering ground beef in a rich tomato and fresh basil sauce, perfect for a quick and comforting dinner. This Italian-inspired meal-prep recipe, ready in about 40 minutes, pairs ground beef, olive oil, yellow onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 390 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 30 min Serves 4 Italian cuisine 390 cal/serving
Build a week of meals around this recipe → Shop this recipe on Instacart → Shop equipment ↓

Ingredients

Meal-prep containers that survive the week → Best Meal Prep Containers in 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Affiliate disclosure: AislePrompt may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through Amazon links, at no additional cost to you. See our policy →

Equipment for this recipe

Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.

More Cookware & pots → Shop all kitchen tools →

Instructions

  1. Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large deep skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add 1 lb ground beef, breaking it apart with a spatula, and cook for 5-6 minutes until browned and no longer pink.
  2. Step 2: Add 1 medium finely diced yellow onion and 3 minced garlic cloves to the beef. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until the onion is translucent and fragrant.
  3. Step 3: Stir in 2 tbsp tomato paste and cook for 1 minute to deepen the flavor.
  4. Step 4: Pour in 28 oz canned crushed tomatoes and 1/2 cup water, stirring to combine. Add 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes, and 1 tsp dried oregano.
  5. Step 5: Reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
  6. Step 6: Remove from heat and fold in 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil leaves. Serve immediately over pasta or crusty bread.

Related recipes