Recipes and Cooking Polenta with Ground Beef Ragout 3.7 (6) Add your rating & review Sliced polenta on the bottom and a spoonful of pesto or olive tapenade on top add a gourmet angle to this slow-simmered beef recipe. By BHG Test Kitchen BHG Test Kitchen The Better Homes & Gardens Test Kitchen has been in continuous operation for nearly 100 years, developing and testing practical, reliable recipes that readers can enjoy at home. The Test Kitchen team includes culinary specialists, food stylists, registered and licensed nutritionists, and other experts with Bachelor of Science degrees in food science, food and nutrition, or culinary arts. Together, the team tests more than 2,500 recipes, produces more than 2,500 food images, and creates more than 1,000 food videos each year in the state-of-the-art test kitchen. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Published on June 14, 2011 Print Rate It Share Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Blaine Moats Prep Time: 25 mins Cook Time: 7 hrs Total Time: 7 hrs 25 mins Servings: 6 Jump to Nutrition Facts Ingredients 1 pound lean ground beef 1 14.5 ounce can Italian-style stewed tomatoes, undrained 3 medium carrots, cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices 2 medium onions, cut into thin wedges 1 large red sweet pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces ½ cup beef broth ¼ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper 6 cloves garlic, minced 1 medium zucchini, halved lengthwise and cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices 1 16 ounce tube refrigerated cooked polenta 6 tablespoon purchased pesto or olive tapenade Fresh basil sprigs (optional) Directions In a large skillet, cook ground beef until brown. Drain off fat. Transfer meat to a 3-1/2- or 4-quart slow cooker. Stir in undrained tomatoes, carrots, onions, sweet pepper, broth, salt, black pepper, and garlic. Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 7 to 9 hours or on high-heat setting for 3-1/2 to 4-1/2 hours. If using low-heat setting, turn to high-heat setting. Stir in zucchini. Cover and cook about 30 minutes more or until zucchini is crisp-tender. Meanwhile, prepare polenta according to package directions. Serve meat mixture over polenta. Top individual servings with pesto. If desired, garnish with basil. Makes 6 servings. Rate it Print Nutrition Facts (per serving) 388 Calories 20g Fat 30g Carbs 20g Protein Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label Nutrition Facts Servings Per Recipe 6 Calories 388 % Daily Value * Total Fat 20g 26% Saturated Fat 4g 20% Cholesterol 50mg 17% Sodium 773mg 34% Total Carbohydrate 30g 11% Protein 20g *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.