Description
Quick & Creamy Ground Beef Pasta in 30 minutes! Your go-to easy weeknight recipe for a flavorful, comforting dinner ready fast.
Ingredients
- Base Ingredients:
- Ground Beef, lean (1 lb)
- Pasta, medium shells or rotini (12 oz)
- Yellow Onion, diced (1 medium)
- Garlic, minced (3 cloves)
- Sauce & Flavor Boosters:
- Canned Diced Tomatoes, undrained (14.5 oz can)
- Beef Broth (2 cups)
- Tomato Paste (2 tbsp)
- Worcestershire Sauce (1 tsp)
- Creamy Finish & Seasonings:
- Cream Cheese, full-fat, softened (4 oz)
- Parmesan Cheese, grated (1/2 cup, plus more for serving)
- Italian Seasoning (1 tsp)
- Red Pepper Flakes (1/2 tsp, or to taste)
- Olive Oil (1 tbsp)
- Salt and Black Pepper (to taste)
- Garnish & Toppings:
- Fresh Parsley, chopped (for garnish, optional)
Instructions
- Brown the Beef & Aromatics:: First things first, grab a large skillet or Dutch oven and drizzle in that olive oil over medium-high heat. Toss in your ground beef and break it up with a spoon. Let it brown beautifully, getting some nice crispy bits – that’s flavor, hon! Drain off any excess fat (I always tilt the pan and use a spoon, messy but effective). Then, add your diced onion and minced garlic. Sauté them until they’re soft and fragrant, about 3-5 minutes. The smell at this stage is just incredible, honestly; it signals that something good is coming!
- Build the Flavor Base:: Now for the good stuff! Stir in the tomato paste, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, and a good splash of Worcestershire sauce. Let that cook for a minute or two, stirring constantly, to really toast those spices and deepen the tomato flavor. This step, to be real, is where I often get distracted by the delicious smells and almost burn the tomato paste – so keep an eye on it! It’s all about building layers of taste for our Quick & Creamy Ground Beef Pasta, and this layer is crucial.
- Simmer the Sauce:: Pour in your canned diced tomatoes (undrained, please!) and the beef broth. Give it a good stir, making sure to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan – that’s flavor gold right there! Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it cook for about 10-15 minutes. This gives all those wonderful flavors a chance to meld and deepen. This is where the kitchen starts smelling absolutely divine, I didn’t expect that the first time I made it, but it’s true!
- Cook the Pasta:: While your sauce is doing its thing, get a big pot of salted water boiling for your pasta. Honestly, this is where I always forget to salt the water the first time around, so don’t be like me! Cook your pasta according to package directions until it’s al dente – that’s just a fancy way of saying ‘to the tooth,’ meaning it still has a little bite. Drain it well, but reserve about half a cup of that starchy pasta water; it’s liquid gold for our sauce!
- Bring It All Together:: Once the sauce has simmered, remove the lid. Now for the creamy magic! Stir in the softened cream cheese until it’s completely melted and smooth. Then, fold in the grated Parmesan cheese. If the sauce looks a little too thick, add a splash or two of that reserved pasta water until it reaches your desired consistency. This is where the Quick & Creamy Ground Beef Pasta really starts to look irresistible, honestly, I sometimes sneak a taste here!
- Serve Your Quick & Creamy Ground Beef Pasta:: Finally, add the drained pasta directly into the skillet with the sauce. Toss everything together until every single piece of pasta is coated in that rich, creamy, meaty goodness. Taste and adjust seasonings – maybe a little more salt, pepper, or even a dash more red pepper flakes if you’re feeling bold! Garnish with fresh chopped parsley if you have it (it adds a lovely pop of color and freshness). Serve immediately and watch it disappear. It should look saucy, feel hearty, and taste like pure comfort.