Some nights, dinner needs to be delicious without becoming a project.
That is exactly where a good jar of marinara earns its place in the pantry.
With Stockyards Smoked Tomato Marinara Sauce, a box of high-protein pasta, and just a few fresh ingredients, you can have a warm, satisfying meal on the table with very little effort.
And depending on what you're in the mood for, you can make it hearty with ground beef or keep it completely plant-based.
The Easy Beef Marinara Version
For a 16 oz jar, use ½ pound of ground beef. For a 32 oz jar, use 1 pound. Brown and crumble the beef in a skillet, cooking it to 160°F, checked with a food thermometer.
Drain any excess grease, then stir in the full jar of Stockyards Smoked Tomato Marinara Sauce in the size you selected.
Simmer gently, covered, for 5–10 minutes, stirring occasionally. If needed, add water or reserved pasta water 1 tablespoon at a time until the sauce coats your pasta easily.
For an extra boost of protein, we love pairing it with Barilla high-protein pasta.
Cook the pasta according to the package directions, drain it, and toss it right into that rich meat sauce.
That's it.
A simple bowl of pasta that tastes like you spent a lot more time on dinner than you actually did.
Finish it with Parmesan, fresh basil, or cracked black pepper if you have them.
Add a simple salad and dinner is done.
Make It Plant-Based
Skip the ground beef and reach for the vegetables instead.
Slice up some baby portobello mushrooms and sauté them in a little olive oil until they are browned and tender.
Add a few generous handfuls of fresh spinach and cook just until it begins to wilt.
Then pour in the Stockyards Smoked Tomato Marinara Sauce and let everything warm together.
Toss with your pasta and you have a hearty plant-based dinner packed with vegetables and plenty of flavor.
Want to add even more?
Try:
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Roasted zucchini
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Bell peppers
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Fresh tomatoes
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Garlic
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Broccoli
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Artichoke hearts
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Fresh basil
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Red pepper flakes
Use what you have.
That's the beauty of it.
Don't Forget the Salad
While the pasta cooks, throw together a quick salad.
A handful of greens, tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and your favorite vinaigrette is plenty.
Add some crusty bread if you have it.
Suddenly you have pasta, vegetables, salad, and a meal everyone can gather around—all without spending the evening in the kitchen.
Your Pantry Should Make Dinner Easier
This is exactly why we believe in keeping a few flavorful staples on hand.
Dinner does not always need a long ingredient list.
Sometimes it is simply:
Brown the beef.
Open the jar.
Boil the pasta.
Toss the salad.
And eat.
Or sauté a few vegetables, open that same jar, and make something completely different.
Simple ingredients.
Big flavor.
And one less reason to wonder, What am I going to make for dinner tonight?
Garnish & Gather — good food brings people together.