After practice
Frozen ravioli and a fast meat sauce for the night everyone walks in starving.
The car ride home is all groans about how hungry everyone is.
Ravioli floats to the top in a few minutes while browned beef and marinara bubble alongside, and dinner is on plates before the whining peaks.
Ingredients
Before making after-practice ravioli with meat sauce, pull the ingredients below and leave room for 12 minutes to finish (plus earlier prep).
- 1 lb frozen cheese ravioli
- 1 lb ground beef
- 3 cups marinara sauce
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
How to Make It
The recipe works best when after-practice ravioli with meat sauce ends with a visible next move for the family.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- While it heats, brown the ground beef in a skillet over medium-high, about 6 minutes, until no pink remains.
- Stir the marinara, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder into the beef and simmer on low.
- Drop the frozen ravioli into the boiling water and cook per the package, about 4 to 5 minutes, until they float.
- Drain the ravioli, fold them into the meat sauce, and finish with parmesan.
Do the Slow Part Early
Make the meat sauce before practice so you only boil ravioli at night.
- Brown the beef and simmer the sauce in the morning
- Keep the ravioli frozen until the water boils
- Grate the parmesan ahead
Store and Reheat
Store the saucy ravioli together; the sauce keeps them from drying out.
- Microwave 2 to 3 minutes, stirring gently once
- Add a splash of water or sauce if it looks thick
- Keeps 3 days in the fridge
- Serve with: garlic bread, Caesar salad, steamed green beans
Make It Fit Tonight
Small Tweaks That Help This Dinner Land
Use sausage
Italian sausage swaps in for beef with more flavor.
Try mushroom ravioli
A meaty filling that pairs well with red sauce.
Make it baked
Top with mozzarella and broil 3 minutes for a crispy lid.
Add hidden veg
Stir grated zucchini into the sauce while it simmers.
Pack tomorrow's lunch
Ravioli and sauce travel and reheat in a thermos.
Plan The Next Step
Keep fast pasta on hand
Use the planner to stock a couple of quick pasta nights like this for the hungriest practice days.