Orecchiette Pasta with Ground Veal and Spinach

Ground veal is one of the most underrated proteins. It is mild in flavor, high in protein, and incredibly versatile. In this comforting orecchiette pasta recipe, our 1lb brick of ground veal with a garlicky white wine sauce, baby spinach, and your choice of pasta is absolutely delicious. It’s a balanced, flexible meal that’s easy enough for a weeknight but satisfying enough for the whole family.

Ingredients

• ½ to 1 lb of orecchiette pasta (or your favorite pasta)
• 1 tbsp olive oil or avocado oil
• 1 small Vidalia onion, finely diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ tsp black pepper
• ¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
• ½ tsp paprika
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning (or oregano)
• ¼ tsp ground fennel (optional but recommended)
• 1 lb ground veal
• ¼ cup dry white wine (or sub beef stock + squeeze of lemon)
• ¼ cup beef stock
• ½ cup reserved pasta water
• 4 cups fresh baby spinach
• Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, for serving
  

Instructions

1. Cook orecchiette in salted water according to package instructions. Reserve ½ cup of the pasta water before draining.
   

2. While the pasta cooks, heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook until translucent, about 4 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook another 30 seconds.
   

3. Add ground veal to the skillet, breaking it up with a spoon. Season with salt, pepper, paprika, red pepper flakes, fennel, and Italian seasoning. Cook until browned and cooked through.
   

4. Pour in white wine and let simmer for 2–3 minutes. Add beef stock and stir to combine.
   

5. Toss in fresh spinach and cover the skillet for 2 minutes to wilt.
   

6. Add cooked pasta and reserved pasta water to the skillet. Toss to coat everything in the sauce. Simmer another minute to thicken.
   

7. If you like a kick, top with freshly grated Parmesan and an extra pinch of red pepper flakes.
   

This orecchiette pasta with ground veal and spinach is a nourishing, flavorful meal that comes together in under 30 minutes. It’s a perfect way to showcase the mild richness of our ground veal, and keep your dinner rotation fresh and satisfying.