Slow-roasted, seasoned braised beef, cooked to perfection then shredded and added to a delicious, hearty marinara sauce – the perfect ragu sauce for a thick-cut pasta dish!
This sauce is not meant for the light eater. Loaded with shredded braised beef, this ragu is seasoned just right with oregano, basil, parmesan, and tomato sauce. If you’re much like me, you’ll want to curl up with a big bowl of this with Netflix as your only company, and wearing your best stay-home pajamas.
Braised beef takes a bit of time and patience, so if you already have some and you’re looking for a great way to use it up, a ragu is a wonderful option. If, however, you do not have any leftover braised beef (and why would you have leftover, right!?) then you can certainly make some from scratch.
For the recipe below, I’m assuming that you have beef already prepared and shredded. If not, here’s my go-to recipe for shredded, braised beef. Beth, from Budget Byte$, has a great Multi-Purpose Shredded Beef. All you need is beef and broth – so delicious and very easy!
In my humble opinion, there’s really nothing like a great tasting pasta dish. But, you see, Dear Reader, this Braised Beef Ragu is not limited to being served with pasta. I like to keep some in my freezer to top a baked potato with, or to pile onto a toasted bun with a side slaw. I also like to serve it with steamed rice, or with mashed cauliflower. It’s a great freezer-friendly sauce that will last for weeks!
Tonight’s menu, though, is pasta. Armed with a skillet full of steaming hot Braised Beef Ragu, some freshly cooked pasta, shaved parmesan cheese, and a healthy appetite, dinner is served!
By the way, you’ll note that there’s bread in the photographs as well. The bread was left uneaten. With a pasta dish this good, why ruin it with bread?
Braised Beef Ragu
Ingredients
- 4 cups cooked shredded beef
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon dried red chili flakes, or to taste
- 4 cups marinara sauce
- 4 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon dried basil
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped (save some for garnish if desired)
- ½ cup parmesan cheese, plus more for garnish
- 450 grams pasta, choose a wide noodle for best results
Instructions
- In a large Dutch oven, add the olive oil and bring to medium heat. Add the shredded beef and stir. Cook the beef for a few minutes until some of the shredded meat has browned.
- Add the onion, salt, and pepper, and continue to cook for 5 minutes.
- Add the garlic and cook for 2 additional minutes.
- Add the dried red chili flakes, if you prefer no spice, leave them out. Next stir in the tomato paste, tomato sauce, oregano, and basil.
- Cover and reduce heat to simmer. Allow to cook, covered, for 20 minutes.
- Next, stir in the parsley and parmesan cheese. Turn off the heat, and place the cover back on the pot.
- Allow to sit, undisturbed, for 5 minutes. Stir to combine and serve immediately over cooked pasta.
- Garnish with parsley and parmesan.
Notes
Claire | Sprinkles and Sprouts says
I have the perfect stay-home pyjamas for this recipe!!! And they are mostly black so any drips of tomato sauce won’t show too badly, as I shovel this into my mouth sat on the sofa watching Netflix.
I love the use of dried basil in this, the flavour is quite different from fresh basil but it works so well in marinara sauce.
byronethomas@gmail.com says
Thank you, Claire. To be perfectly honest, I’m not a fan of fresh basil – it’s too overpowering – but, I love the flavour of dried basil.
Noel Lizotte says
My stars, Byron, how can you leave the bread uneaten?! That’s an impossibility for me!!
The Beef Ragu looks like a great way to use that hunk of red meat that’s sitting in my freezer. I’m always looking for a new way to fix beef. My husband loves it, and I’m a “so-so” fan.
Thanks for this inspiration!
byronethomas@gmail.com says
Do you see how big that bowl of pasta is, Noel? I couldn’t possibly eat the bread, although, I wanted to do so very badly. 🙂
Margaret says
I need the win the lottery so that I can pay you to be my personal chef.
byronethomas@gmail.com says
Yes, because I’m very expensive. 🙂 And, as if you are not already on the receiving end of most of my cooking anyway. LOL
Megan Marlowe says
This is one of those stick to your ribs, down home, comfort food and I’m in love. When I really want to indulge in something, it’s always pasta and this braised beef hits the spot. Paired with a salad and some garlic bread, my family would be all over this dish!
byronethomas@gmail.com says
Thank you, Megan. I agree; it’s very hearty!
Amy Katz from Veggies Save The Day says
Now this is comfort food! I love eating pasta at least a few nights a week, and I’m always looking for new ideas. Beautiful pics too!
byronethomas@gmail.com says
I wish my figure allowed for pasta a few nights each week. Envious! 🙂
Kelly @ Trial and Eater says
I don’t eat beef but all those other flavors in the sauce sound delicious! I love a versatile sauce. But no matter how good it is, I can’t see how you left the bread uneaten 🙂
Marisa Franca @ All Our Way says
My pyjamas have a nice elastic waistband that really expands — perfect for this kind of delicious meal. YUM! I like that you put in red pepper flakes, we do like our spice and the hearty meat eaters in our family would go after this ragu like there was a famine. I’m pinning!!
byronethomas@gmail.com says
Thank you, Marisa. PS All of my pajamas have expandable waists. 🙂
Stephanie@ApplesforCJ says
I love hearty dishes like this that make you want to just curl up in your favorite PJ’s and watch Netflix. Those are some of my favorite kind of days 🙂
byronethomas@gmail.com says
Can you keep a secret, Stephanie? I confess, I have too many of those types of days. But, I ain’t complaining!
Pam Wattenbarger says
I love multi-purpose recipes like this. I need to make a big batch of this and keep it in the freezer for those days I don’t want to cook.
byronethomas@gmail.com says
Yes, Pam! It’s extremely freezer friendly.
Dene' V. Alexander says
You had me at “slow-roasted.” I can only imagine the flavors you managed to achieve with this beautiful ragu!! Serve me up a bowl, quick, before it’s all gone! Although, I can imagine I’m too late!
byronethomas@gmail.com says
Aw, thanks, Dene. I wish I could share it with you, but I packaged it all up and gave it to my dad. 🙂
Veena Azmanov says
Oh I haven’t made a Ragu in ages and this has me craving for some now. Look so gorgeously red and inviting. Oh I have to have bread with my ragu.. I’ll leave the pasta for you lol Yum.
byronethomas@gmail.com says
Hahaha – thank you, Veena!
Adriana Lopez Martn says
A good ragu is very difficult to make because requires time and good quality tomatoes. Yours looks so decadent. I wish I has a bowl right now. Beautiful recipe =)
byronethomas@gmail.com says
Thank you, Adriana.
Jeff says
That ragu looks quite incredible!
byronethomas@gmail.com says
Thank you, Jeff. 🙂
Amy says
Yum. I’m a big fan of braised beef and it sounds perfect in this ragu. I might even kick up the heat a notch because I love a spicy pasta sauce in a heartier dish like this!
byronethomas@gmail.com says
I’m a big baby when it comes to spice, but I wish I could be more like you. 🙂
Priya Srinivasan says
A dish that can be served in many ways, with rice, pasta, baked potatoes and bread, oh my, love the versatility! Beautiful colors there!!!
byronethomas@gmail.com says
Thank you, Priya.
Gillian Thompson says
What a great idea to make a braised beef ragu instead of mince meat. I will definitely give this a go. Reminds me of a Venetian duck ragu I once made.
Tanya says
This is my kind of sauce!! I would love this on a baked potato. Saving this for our dinner menu.
Kathryn @ FoodieGirlChicago says
Can I come to your place for dinner??!! 🙂 I love the flavors in this dish – there is nothing like a great meat sauce!! Looks amazing!
byronethomas@gmail.com says
My door is always open to good company! 🙂
Christine McMichael says
Byron, this looks AMAZING! I don’t make enough recipes with beef, so I’m definitely adding this one to my “try soon” list. Can’t wait to try it out!
Renz says
I don’t really eat beef but I will cheat for this ragu. It looks delicious. The flavors of the sauce sounds bowl licking worthy lol
Molly Kumar says
Byron, this looks so delicious and perfectly cooked. I don’t even eat beef but I’m literally drooling over this 😉 The recipe looks so flavorful, I would try it soon with chicken 🙂
byronethomas@gmail.com says
Thank you, Molly. I bet it would be great with shredded chicken as well.
Tamara says
I love anything that is slow cooked, particularly beef. This looks so comforting, Byron! Can’t wait to try this in the fast approaching Aussie winter. You have a new follower in me 🙂
byronethomas@gmail.com says
Thank you, Tamara. 🙂