Beef and Green Bean Ragù (Simple One-Pot Recipe)
A simple beef and green bean ragù made in one pot, the kind of food I grew up with. The green beans cook until tender, the beef softens, and everything comes together into a delicious meal.
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 449kcal
Equipment
- Dutch oven or another heavy-bottomed pot
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef Note 1
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion
- 2 garlic cloves
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon sweet paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon thyme
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes or to taste
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 can diced tomatoes 14-15 oz/ 400 g
- 1 lb green beans Note 2
- 1 cup chicken stock or beef or vegetable stock
- small bunch of parsley
Instructions
- Brown ground beef: Heat the oil in the pot over medium heat. Add the ground beef and brown it, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. After 2–3 minutes, add the finely chopped onion and cook until the beef is fully browned and the onion is softened, another 3-4 minutes.2 tablespoons olive oil + 1 lb ground beef + 1 medium onion
- Add seasoning: Add the garlic, tomato paste, smoked paprika, sweet paprika, oregano, thyme, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Stir for 1 minute until fragrant.2 garlic cloves + 2 tablespoons tomato paste + ½ teaspoon smoked paprika + ½ teaspoon sweet paprika + 1 teaspoon dried oregano + ½ teaspoon thyme + ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes + ½ teaspoon fine sea salt + ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- Add the diced tomatoes and simmer for 5 minutes, covered, to allow the flavors to meld.1 can diced tomatoes
- Prepare the green beans in the meantime. Trim the stem ends, leaving the tails on. If the beans are long, break them into two or three pieces so they cook evenly and are easier to eat.1 lb green beans + 1 cup chicken stock
- Simmer ragu: Add green beans to the pot along with the stock. Cover the pot and simmer for 12–15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the beans are tender but not mushy. Frozen and defrosted beans might cook a bit faster, so start checking after 8 minutes already, and continue cooking until they are done to your liking.
- Adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper and stir in the parsley.small bunch of parsley
Notes
- Ground meat: You can also use a mixture of ground beef and ground pork, or just ground pork.
- Green beans: You can also use frozen beans for this dish. They should be fully or partially defrosted before cooking.
Nutrition
Serving: 1/4 of the dish | Calories: 449kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 16g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 82mg | Sodium: 545mg | Potassium: 957mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 1375IU | Vitamin C: 28mg | Calcium: 120mg | Iron: 5mg