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The cooked Greek Style Meat Sauce {Makaronia Me Kima} ready to serve

Greek Style Meat Sauce {Makaronia Me Kima}

An easy traditional Greek style meat sauce for pasta.  Perfect for busy weeknight suppers.
Recipe Video Print
Total Time: 30 minutes
Serves: 4 servings
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This recipe for Greek-Style Meat Sauce {Makaronia Me Kima} is a 30-minute dish full of authentic flavors – fresh mint, cinnamon & allspice.

A plate of curly pasta topped high with Greek Style Meat Sauce

This recipe for Greek Style Meat pasta Sauce is 30 minute dish which infuses spaghetti Bolognese with the flavors of Greece.

Makaronia Me Kima

In Greece, this dish is called Makaronia Me Kima, which simply translates as spaghetti with meat sauce.  I didn’t use spaghetti, but this recipe uses all the authentic flavors you’d expect in Greek food.

What Meat For Greek-Style Meat Sauce {Makaronia Me Kima}

Growing up, we had a close family friend from Greece who made this all the time.  She used ground lamb, but most recipes call for beef which is what this recipe calls for.  I prefer lamb,  If you haven’t tried it – give it a try!  The flavors are delicious!

This quick and easy recipe is a delicious homemade pasta sauce made with simple ingredients that are probably already in your pantry and your fridge.

Why this recipe works: 

  • The traditional Greek ingredients of fresh mint, cinnamon, and allspice give this dish a flavorful richness.
  • It’s a simple recipe that’s quick to prepare, making it perfect for busy weeknight meals.
  • Using fresh ingredients, rather than jarred sauce makes this recipe a much healthier option.

How to make  Greek-Style Meat Sauce {Makaronia Me Kima}

Start with cooking the onion until soft, add the garlic, followed by the cinnamon, allspice, ground cloves, and dried oregano.  Cook to release the flavors.The onions cooking with the spices

Add the meat.The meat added to the pan with the onion and garlic mixture

Fry until fully cooked and no pink shows at all in the meat (about 8 minutes).  Add the tomato paste and stir into the meat.The tomato paste mixed into the meat

Fry another minute and stir in the wine and allow to cook down.The wine being added to the beef mixture Add the tomatoes, sugar, parsley, and fresh mint.The fresh herbs and tomatoes added to the pan with the meat mixture.

Stir together, season with salt and pepper.The Greek Style Meat Sauce {Makaronia Me Kima} cooking in the pan

Lower the heat and simmer for 25 minutes.The cooked Greek Style Meat Sauce {Makaronia Me Kima} ready to serve

Serve over pasta and enjoy!

A plate of curly pasta topped high with Greek Style Meat Sauce {Makaronia Me Kima}

Cook’s Tips:

  • This recipe calls for ground beef, but authentic recipes would call for lamb.  You could easily use ground pork or turkey too.
  • The longer you simmer, the deeper the flavor, so if you have the time, cook the sauce longer and add a little water if it gets too thick.
  • For a more authentic combination, instead of serving with Parmesan cheese, try using Greek Mizithra cheese.
  • For a low-fat option, try dry frying the meat and adding cooking spray when adding the onions and garlic.
  • Different regions of Greece use varied ingredients.  Other options are adding cayenne pepper, ground cloves, bay leaves or topped with mozzarella cheese.
The cooked Greek Style Meat Sauce {Makaronia Me Kima} ready to serve

Let's Make Greek Style Meat Sauce {Makaronia Me Kima}

An easy traditional Greek style meat sauce for pasta.  Perfect for busy weeknight suppers.
4.81 from 36 votes
Prep5 minutes
Cook25 minutes
Total30 minutes
Serves: 4 servings
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Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 large red onion chopped or sliced
  • 3 cloves garlic chopped
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • ½ cup white wine or red wine
  • 28 oz can crushed or pureed tomatoes
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground allspice
  • ½ teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon sugar
  • 4 leaves fresh mint chopped
  • fresh parsley (a good handful) chopped
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • ½ lb pasta
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large pan over medium heat. Cook the onion until soft, add the garlic, followed by the cinnamon, allspice, ground cloves, and dried oregano. Cook to release the flavors.
  • Fry until fully cooked and no pink shows at all in the meat (about 8 minutes). Add the tomato paste and stir into the meat.
  • Stir in the wine and allow to cook down.
  • Add the tomatoes, sugar, parsley, and fresh mint. Stir together, season with salt and pepper. 
  • Lower the heat and simmer for 25 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Drain and serve topped with the sauce.

Slow Cooker

  • Follow the stovetop instructions through step 4. Then transfer to a slow cooker, cover, and cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours, stirring occasionally.

Tips + Notes

  • This recipe calls for ground beef, but authentic recipes would call for lamb.  You could easily use ground pork or turkey too.
  • The longer you simmer, the deeper the flavor, so if you have the time, cook the sauce longer and add a little water if it gets too thick.
  • For a more authentic combination, instead of serving with Parmesan cheese, try using Greek Mizithra cheese.
  • For a low-fat option, try dry frying the meat and adding cooking spray when adding the onions and garlic.
  • Different regions of Greece use varied ingredients.  Other options are adding cayenne pepper, ground cloves, bay leaves or topped with mozzarella cheese.

Nutrition Information:

Calories: 572 (29%)| Carbohydrates: 50g (17%)| Protein: 30g (60%)| Fat: 19g (29%)| Saturated Fat: 5g (31%)| Cholesterol: 73mg (24%)| Sodium: 117mg (5%)| Potassium: 662mg (19%)| Fiber: 3g (13%)| Sugar: 4g (4%)| Vitamin A: 80IU (2%)| Vitamin C: 3.6mg (4%)| Calcium: 64mg (6%)| Iron: 4.2mg (23%)

Nutritional Data Disclaimer

Author:Erren Hart
Course:Main
Cuisine:Greek
Keyword:greek style meat sauce, Makaronia Me Kima, meat sauce recipe
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Update Notes: This post was originally published on Apr 17, 2017, but was republished with a slight change in recipe, step by step instruction photos, a new video, and tips in February of 2019.

Reader Interactions

4.81 from 36 votes (19 ratings without comment)

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  1. Alexandros says

    I’m Alex from Greece.

    Fresh Mint is not a Greek traditional ingredient and never was. Bay leaf, allspice and cinnamon are the ones always used in different variations in makaronia me kima.
    In some regions in Greece they also include thyme or oregano , but again in different variations.

    Personally I prefer the 100% traditional Ragu-Bolognese with two kinds of meats(beef/pork), sofrito, milk,white wine and a little nutmeg, but that’s me .

    Reply

  2. Gina says

    I know this seems crazy, but I be seen this made by boiling ground beef and adding chicken bullion. Could I be remembering this wrong or is this possible?

    Reply

  4. ACHILLES says

    TRY THIS RECIPE BY VARYING IT A LITTLE: (1) SLIGHTLY LESS CLOVE HALF THE AMOUNT SPECIFIED, (2) OMIT THE OREGANO ALTOGETHER (3) IN ITS STEAD ADD A COUPLE OF MEDIUM SIZED BAY LEAVES. THE ORIGINAL RECIPE IS VERY GOOD BUT FOR ME THE OREGANO AND THE CINNAMON DON’T SUIT EACH OTHER.

    Reply

  6. Phillip says

    In Cincinnati we have dish that comes from this called a three way, they also use cinnamon, nutmeg and sometimes chocolate in it!

    Reply

  7. Nick @ GreekBoston.com says

    This Greek-Style meat sauce is a refreshing alternative to the traditional Italian sauces. My yiayia (grandmother) used to make this all the time but instead of mint, she’d actually use a pinch of cinnamon!

    Reply

  8. susana says

    Just returned from Athens yesterday and fell in love with this dish. Will be making it for dinner tonight.

    Reply

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