Slow Cooked Beef Ragu with Rigatoni – Fall-apart beef in a delicious tomato and vegetable sauce. So simple and tasty! Slow cooked fall-apart beef in a tangy tomato sauce. Packed with veg and served with lovely big pasta tubes to soak up all that flavour.
It doesn’t matter whether it’s summer or winter, this Slow Cooked Beef Ragu with Rigatoni is perfectly delicious anytime. I like it sprinkled with a little cheese and some chopped flat-leaf parsley.
I always love the way a dish can develop in flavour so much, simply by leaving it to slowly cook away whilst you’re getting on with other things. Put it in the slow cooker before you go to work and your house will smell amazing by the time you get home. You can cook this in the oven too if you don’t have a slow cooker.
The kids will lap it up, yet it’s still grown-up enough to enjoy for supper with a glass of wine.
Make sure you save some for your lunch the next day, just reheat in the microwave for a filling meal that beats sandwiches hands-down.
I was so excited to get my cookie experiment featured in the latest roundup (thanks Angie, Margot and Saucy!)
The Slow Cooked Beef Ragu with Rigatoni Recipe:
- 500 g braising beef chopped into bite sized cubes
- 1 heaped tbsp plain/all purpose flour
- salt and pepper
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 large onion peeled and chopped
- 3 medium carrots peeled and chopped into chunks
- 2 sticks of celery chopped
- 2 cloves garlic peeled and chopped finely
- 2 tbsp tomato puree/paste
- 150 ml red wine optional
- 1 x 400ml tin of chopped tomatoes
- 400 ml hot beef stock using 2 beef stock cubes with water is fine
- 1 tsp dried thyme or a few sprigs of fresh thyme
- Rigatoni pasta cooked as per instructions on the pack. I usually cook 100g dry pasta per person, but I love pasta
- 100 g cheddar cheese grated
- Handful flat leaf parsley chopped
- Preheat oven to 160c (or put slow cooker on low to heat up). Place the braising beef in a bowl and mix with the flour and a good pinch of salt and pepper. In a casserole pan, heat up the olive oil and place the beef in the pan. Cook the beef on a high heat until just browned on all sides. Turn down the heat and add in the onion. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until the onions are starting to turn translucent. Add in the carrot, celery and garlic and cook for another couple of minutes. Add in the tomato puree and stir to coat everything. Add in the wine, turn up the heat and let it bubble for a couple of minutes. Finally add in the chopped tomatoes, beef stock and thyme. Bring everything to a gently bubble.
- Oven version: Place a lid on the pan and cook in the oven for 3-4 hours until the beef is falling apart. Check every hour or so to ensure the sauce isn't running dry. Top up with boiling water if it's starting to look dry.
- Slow Cooker/Crockpot version: Pour everything into the slow cooker/crockpot, place the lid on and cook for 6-8 hours on low. Each slow cooker is different, so you may need to add some water if you think the sauce is going to dry up during the cooking time.
- Serve with rigatoni and garnish with the cheese and parsley. I like to mix the rigatoni into the sauce, then scoop it out and serve it up, topped with the meaty chunks.
Any leftover ragu can be cooled, placed in a lidded container and refrigerated or frozen. Ensure the ragu is fully defrosted before reheating thoroughly in a pan or microwave.
The Burlap Kitchen says
Now that looks like a nice hearty meal! Happy FF 🙂
HostessAtHeart says
I just love this type of pasta dish. You are right that it’s good anytime!
Nicky Corbishley says
It sure is. I could have this every day for a week!
Mandi says
I’ve always valiantly argued for the use of meat chunks as well as minced meat in pasta dishes – it gives it a different texture and somehow seems more satisfying when you’re looking for real MEAT. Agree with you on the pasta point. In my house we stick to a strict 60g/person for diet purposes but if it were up to me it’d be 100g+!!! Thanks for sharing, this looks amazing 🙂
Nicky Corbishley says
60g? That’s starvation surely 🙂
I’m going to try 60g next time and think of you Mandi.
Mr Fitz says
That looks great!
Nicky Corbishley says
Thanks Mr Fitz 🙂
Jhuls says
Nicky!!! My eyes are on you plate – watch out!! But I know you will never give me a chance to steal from your plate, so I’ll take two servings of this. 😛 This meal sounds incredibly delicious. Thanks for sharing another gorgeous dish!! I hope you have a lovely week. <3
Nicky Corbishley says
Thanks Jhuls! I’m loving your Minty Peach Lemonade, maybe we can share 🙂 I’ve only done one drink recipe for my blog so far. You’ve given me the push to try a little experimentation.
Ngan R. says
Wow, looks delicious!
Nicky Corbishley says
Thanks Ngan, glad you like it 🙂
Selma's Table says
What a lovely dish to come home to! I have just discovered the delights of the slow cooker and will add this recipe to my list of dishes to try! By the way, if you would like to be considered for a feature, please edit your post to include the link to Angie’s FF#29 post. Thanks for bringing this to the party. Happy Fiesta Friday.
Nicky Corbishley says
Thanks Selma, let me know how you get on, hope you like it 🙂 Thanks for the reminder about the link too. I’ve updated the post. Happy FF!
[email protected] says
Can’t wait to make this.
Nicky Corbishley says
Hope you like it as much as my lot did Tracey
[email protected] and Brown Sugar says
YUM! This looks gorgeous!
Nicky Corbishley says
Thanks! I still have some red wine left over from this and your sangria recipe is calling me!!
apuginthekitchen says
mmmmm love beef ragu. This looks wonderful and the perfect pasta pairing with that thick rich sauce.
Nicky Corbishley says
and the added bonus of sneaking some veg into the kids. They need it after the mountain of holiday treats they’ve managed to get through 🙂
Jess says
What a great looking dish- thanks for bringing it to FF, Nicky- great photography too 🙂
Nicky Corbishley says
Thanks Jess. I have to give credit to my husband for the photograph. I’ll pass along the compliment 🙂 Happy FF to you too!
Rachel @LittleChefBigAppetite says
Oh gosh, this looks incredible!!
Nicky Corbishley says
Thanks Rachel 🙂
Marissa (@pinchandswirl) says
This looks mouthwatering! I so agree with you about slow cooking – it’s wonderful to come home to a house that smells like the promise of something delicious.
Nicky Corbishley says
Doesn’t it just! Unfortunately a slight hitch with my slow cooker (or possibly a lack of liquid in the particular recipe I was trying…..) recently resulted in me coming home to the smell of burnt chicken. I can’t tell you how gutted I was 🙂
Ahu Shahrabani says
This is the perfect hearty meal! The wine and thyme must give it such depth of flavor.
Nicky Corbishley says
Thanks Ahu! I’m a bit of a pasta-holic so this is a perfect one for me.
Thalia @ butter and brioche says
this beef ragu looks amazing. definitely craving a bowl right now, perfect for the winter weather here in australia!
Nicky Corbishley says
Thanks Thalia. Winter feels like it’s on it’s way here in the UK today too. Brrrr can’t believe I had to wear a jumper in August! Hope you enjoy the recipe 🙂