Easy Homemade Beef Pasta Sauce

Ingredients:

• 1 pound Ground Beef (93% lean or leaner)
• 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 can (15 ounces) no salt added or regular tomato sauce
• 1 can (14.5 ounces) Italian-Style diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
• 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• Thinly sliced fresh basil (optional)

• Hot cooked pasta, grated Parmesan (optional)

Cooking:

1. Heat stockpot over medium heat until hot. Add Ground Beef, onion and garlic; cook 8 to 10 minutes, breaking beef into 3/4-inch crumbles and stirring occasionally. Pour off drippings, as necessary.
Cook's Tip: Cooking times are for fresh or thoroughly thawed ground beef. Ground beef should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160ºF. Color is not a reliable indicator of ground beef doneness.
2. Stir in tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, tomato paste and crushed red pepper; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 20 minutes to develop flavors, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; season with salt and stir in basil, if desired.
Cook's Tip: Two cans (8 ounces each) tomato sauce may be substituted for 1 can (15 ounce) tomato sauce.


For early eaters use no-added salt Italian-style diced tomatoes.



For early eaters (6-7m) spaghetti can be hard to pick up prior to baby having the pincer grasp. Pieces of pasta about the size of an adult pinky finger are preferable early on in self-feeding. These include rigatoni, penne, cavatappi.


3. Serve over pasta and sprinkle with cheese, if desired.
   
   Italian-Style Beef Sausage Variation: Prepare Italian-Style Beef Sausage by combining 1 pound Ground Beef (93% lean or leaner) with 1 teaspoon fennel seed, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon coriander, 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/4 teaspoon paprika, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper and 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper in large bowl, mixing lightly but thoroughly. Proceed as directed in step 1.

Cook's Tip: If you have questions about starting solids foods, consult your physician or health care provider. 


This recipe includes dairy, a potentially allergenic food. Ensure baby has tried dairy a number of times on their own without reaction before offering this recipe to baby.