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Home / Mains

Greek Style Meat Sauce {Makaronia Me Kima}

An easy traditional Greek style meat sauce for pasta.  Perfect for busy weeknight suppers.

Erren Hart

|

last Updated:

03/01/2024
4.81 from 36 votes
Jump to Recipe Video
Serves: 4 servings
Prep: 5 minutes mins
Cook: 25 minutes mins
A plate of curly pasta topped high with Greek Style Meat Sauce {Makaronia Me Kima}
A collage of images showing a savory Greek-style meat sauce in a pan, a close-up of the sauce texture, and a plated serving over pasta, all framed by the Erren's Kitchen logo. The text "Greek Style Meat Sauce" is prominently displayed at the bottom.
A close-up of a plate of cavatappi pasta mixed with a rich, Greek-style meat sauce and sprinkled with fresh herbs, next to a fork. The Erren's Kitchen logo is at the top with the text "GREEK STYLE MEAT SAUCE" written boldly below.
A close-up of a plate of cavatappi pasta mixed with a rich, Greek-style meat sauce and sprinkled with fresh herbs, next to a fork. The Erren's Kitchen logo is at the top with the text "GREEK STYLE MEAT SAUCE" written boldly below.

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

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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}

Other Pasta Dishes You’ll Love

  • Spaghetti Bolognese
  • Pasta Alla Norma
  • Easy Homemade Tomato Sauce
  • Fettuccine Alfredo
  • Spaghetti with Clam Sauce

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

Recipe

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
Print
Prep Time: 5 minutes mins
Cook Time: 25 minutes mins
Total Time: 30 minutes mins
Serves 4 servings

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

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

  • 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.
Show Nutrition Hide Nutrition

Nutrition

Calories: 572 | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 73mg | Sodium: 117mg | Potassium: 662mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 80IU | Vitamin C: 3.6mg | Calcium: 64mg | Iron: 4.2mg
Created by Erren Hart
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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.

4.81 from 36 votes (19 ratings without comment)

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53 responses

  1. Patty G Avatar
    Patty G
    02/13/2024

    So delicious!

    Reply
    1. Erren's Kitchen Avatar
      Erren’s Kitchen
      02/13/2024

      Thank you so much, Patty!! We are so glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply
  2. Deanna Marie Avatar
    Deanna Marie
    11/29/2023

    I can’t wait to try this recipe. I am Italian, so I make my meat sauce my own way, but I love to learn. my ex-boyfriend Was Greek. I always stood in the kitchen as his mother cooked, her way… I do remember somewhat of how she was making this meat sauce, very similar. After a night out on the town, when we went home, we opened the refrigerator and took the cold meat sauce right out of the refrigerator and ate it with a fork. No need to warm it up. It was so delicious. I cannot wait to make this recipe. Thank you sooo sooo much. So yeah I’m posting this pre- making it, but I know it’s gonna be delicious, no doubt. Thank you again for posting.

    Reply
    1. Erren's Kitchen Avatar
      Erren’s Kitchen
      11/29/2023

      You’re very welcome! It’s wonderful to hear about your connection to Greek cuisine and the memories associated with it. Food has a unique way of bringing back special moments, and it’s great that you’re excited to try this recipe and reminisce about those times.

      I hope the Greek Style Meat Sauce turns out just as delicious as you anticipate. Enjoy the process of making it and the flavors it brings.

      Reply
  3. Connie
    09/20/2023

    This recipe was a hit in my house! The blend of spices like cinnamon, allspice, and cloves gave the sauce an aromatic and unique flavor that we absolutely loved. Using both red wine and tomato paste deepened the richness of the sauce, making it even more satisfying. I was a little hesitant about the mint at first, but it added a delightful, unexpected freshness that paired really well with the parsley. The sauce clung perfectly to the pasta, making every bite a treat. This dish is definitely going into our dinner rotation. Thank you for sharing such a flavorful recipe!

    Reply
    1. Erren Hart Avatar
      Erren Hart
      09/25/2023

      I’m thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the recipe and that it’s earned a spot in your dinner rotation! It’s great to know that the blend of spices and the addition of mint resonated well with your taste buds. The wine and tomato paste do work wonders in giving the sauce that deep, rich flavor.

      Your feedback is incredibly valuable, not just for me, but also for others who might be considering making this recipe. Thank you for taking the time to share your experience and for your kind words. Happy cooking!

      Reply
  4. Maria Avatar
    Maria
    08/21/2023

    This is delicious! Can’t wait to make this again.

    Reply
    1. Erren Hart Avatar
      Erren Hart
      08/24/2023

      I’m thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for your feedback. If you have any questions or need more recipes, feel free to ask!

      Reply
  5. amy kenny Avatar
    amy kenny
    11/07/2022

    i love this recipe so much

    Reply
    1. Erren Hart Avatar
      Erren Hart
      11/07/2022

      Hi Kenny,

      Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re so happy you love it and we hope you’ll continue to enjoy it for years to come. 🙂
      Thank you for being a part of the Erren’s Kitchen community,

      Reply
  6. Cathy Avatar
    Cathy
    01/19/2021

    This is a wonderful recipe. Reminds me of my childhood… my mom always used cinnamon, cloves and allspice. Mint was a nice touch :))

    Reply
    1. Erren's Kitchen Avatar
      Erren’s Kitchen
      01/20/2021

      Thank you so much, I’m glad you liked it 🙂

      Reply
  7. David Hubbard Avatar
    David Hubbard
    12/03/2019

    Ok, I have been trying for over a year to replicate this recipe from a Greek restaurant in Chicago that has since closed called the Parthenon. Your recipe comes darn close! I have bookmarked this and will be trying other recipes from your site as this recipe was awesome! I think the red onion, tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, and the white wine are what sets this recipe apart from all of the other Greek spaghetti recipes I have tried in the last year. Thank you for your website!!!!

    Reply
    1. Erren's Kitchen Avatar
      Erren’s Kitchen
      12/04/2019

      Thank you David, I’m glad you enjoyed it. Also, thank you for your awesome feedback!

      Reply
    2. John Avatar
      John
      08/30/2020

      Warren’s recipe here looks terrific and we will try it. David, you mentioned the Parthenon in Chicago. I loved that restaurant also. I don’t recall having this dish, but do you also remember they had a Beef Kapama? Beef stew meat in a tomato sauce served over a rice pilaf. I’ve been trying to find a recipe like that and would appreciate any input you have.

      Reply
      1. David Hubbard Avatar
        David Hubbard
        04/28/2022

        I never had the Beef Kapama so unfortunately I can’t help you on that. If anyone can figure it out, it would be Erren!

      2. Erren Hart Avatar
        Erren Hart
        04/29/2022

        Thank you David for commenting on this because somehow it slipped past me. I had an assistant that would answer comments with positive reviews, but questions and any negative feedback were supposed to be left for me to address. I’m going to reply to John now!

      3. Erren Hart Avatar
        Erren Hart
        04/29/2022

        Hi John, I’m so sorry your comment slipped by me for so long! Luckily, David brought it to my attention! When I lived in England my husband and I used to go to this little greek place run by a greek family. The head cook was the mother. She was a little old lady from Greece who didn’t even speak English. It was like going to family dinners at their house. It was the owners of the restaurant that taught me how to make this dish. When we came in, they would sit us at the family table in the back (that was usually covered in the bookkeeping records and menu plans). They would just clear the table and have us sit there where they would join us whenever they had a free minute. I did have Beef Kapama at their restaurant and although I don’t have a recipe, I think it would be quite similar to this sauce (maybe with a little beef stock mixed in). The flavor profiles are similar in a lot of greek cooking. I’ll plan to create a recipe for Beef Kapama in the fall, but until then, this is what I would do… Brown about 2 lbs of stew meat in a dutch oven, remove it from the pan then make the sauce for this recipe, mix in about two cups of beef stock, add the meat back to the pot and simmer on low heat, for about 2 hours, until the meat is tender and the sauce thickens (stirring occasionally). Let me know how it goes if you try it!

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