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A large black skillet filled with ground beef pasta, topped with grated cheese and chopped parsley. A wooden spoon rests in the pasta, and a striped towel sits nearby.

Ground Beef Pasta

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Hearty, creamy, and cheesy, this easy one-pan ground beef pasta recipe is a delicious weeknight dinner everyone can agree on!
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 30 minutes
Total: 45 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
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Ingredients
  

  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 large yellow onion cut into 1/2-inch dice
  • 2 medium carrots scrubbed and cut into 1/4-inch dice
  • 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 6 garlic cloves minced (about 2 tablespoons)
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 pound lean ground beef (I used 93% lean)
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 (14-ounce) can reduced sodium beef broth
  • 1 (14-ounce) can tomato sauce
  • 8 ounces whole wheat elbow mini shells, or similar short pasta
  • 2 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese Neufchatel, at room temperature, cut into a few pieces
  • ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan
  • 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Instructions
 

  • Heat a Dutch oven or similar large, sturdy pot over medium-low heat. Add the oil onion, carrot, salt, and pepper. Let cook until the onion turns brown and soft, about 10 minutes (don't shortcut this step; it builds a lot of flavor).
    Chopped carrots and onions being sautéed in a pan with a wooden slotted spoon resting among the vegetables.
  • Add the garlic, Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes. Let cook just until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
  • Increase heat to medium-high and add the ground beef. With a wooden spoon, sturdy spatula, or better yet a meat chopper, break the meat into small pieces. Continue to brown, stirring periodically, until the meat is browned and cooked through, about 6 minutes.
    Chopped onions, carrots, and ground beef are being sautéed in a pan with a wooden slotted spoon, showing a mix of cooked and uncooked meat and vegetables.
  • Add the tomato paste. Cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes.
    Ground beef, diced onions, and carrots are being cooked in a pan. A wooden spoon is mixing the ingredients, and a dollop of tomato paste sits on top of the mixture.
  • Pour in the beef broth. Scrape up any browned bits stuck to the pan.
    Ground beef, diced carrots, and onions simmering in a rich tomato sauce in a skillet, with a wooden spoon stirring the mixture.
  • Add the tomato sauce. Fill up the empty sauce can halfway with water then pour it into the pot. Stir to combine. Increase the heat to high and bring to a boil.
  • Once the liquid is at a strong boil (not just simmering at the edges), stir in the pasta. Cook until al dente according to package instructions (I find I need to add a few more minutes for the right texture in this recipe), stirring often and scraping a spoon along the bottom of the pan to keep it from sticking. If at any point the pasta becomes too dry, add more water as needed.
    A wooden spoon rests on a skillet filled with cooked elbow macaroni, ground meat, red bell pepper pieces, and sauce, as the ingredients are being mixed together.
  • Remove the pan from the heat. Add the cream cheese. Stir until it's melted and smoothly combined. Stir in the parmesan and half the parsley. Taste and adjust seasoning as desired. Enjoy hot, with additional parsley and Parmesan on top.
    A skillet filled with cooked macaroni, ground beef, diced tomatoes, and onions, being stirred with a wooden spoon. There are dollops of cream cheese on top of the mixture.

Notes

  • TO STORE: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight storage container for up to 3 days. 
  • TO REHEAT: Warm up leftovers on the stovetop over medium-low heat or in the microwave. 
  • TO FREEZE: Freeze leftovers in an airtight, freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1(of 4)Calories: 713kcalCarbohydrates: 128gProtein: 22gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 128mgPotassium: 1043mgFiber: 5gSugar: 50gVitamin A: 6262IUVitamin C: 18mgCalcium: 265mgIron: 7mg
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