Description
This Stovetop Creamy Ground Beef Pasta is a delicious and hearty one-pan meal, combining tender pasta with a rich, cheesy beef sauce. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, it features ground beef simmered with tomatoes, cream, and cheese for a comforting, flavorful dish the whole family will love.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 12 ounces pasta such as penne or rotini
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes drained
- 1 cup beef broth
Meat and Dairy
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Vegetables and Other
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside to keep warm.
- Sauté Onion: In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add finely chopped onion and cook until soft and translucent, about 3 to 4 minutes.
- Add Garlic: Stir in minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
- Brown Ground Beef: Add ground beef to the skillet. Cook thoroughly, breaking it up with a spoon as it browns. Drain excess grease if necessary.
- Season Meat: Stir in salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning until well combined.
- Add Tomato Paste: Mix in the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute to deepen the flavor.
- Add Tomatoes and Broth: Stir in the drained diced tomatoes and beef broth. Allow the mixture to simmer gently for 5 minutes to develop the flavors.
- Make Creamy Sauce: Reduce heat to low. Add heavy cream, shredded cheddar cheese, and grated Parmesan cheese. Stir continuously until cheeses melt and the sauce becomes smooth and creamy.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the cooked pasta to the skillet, tossing to coat evenly with the creamy beef sauce.
- Heat Through: Cook for an additional 2 to 3 minutes on low heat, stirring occasionally until everything is heated through and well combined.
- Serve: Remove from heat and serve hot.
Notes
- Substitute ground turkey for a lighter version of this dish.
- Add spinach or mushrooms when sautéing onions for extra vegetables and nutrition.
- If the sauce becomes too thick, add a splash of reserved pasta water or extra broth to loosen it.
