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One Pot Beef Pasta
One Pot Beef Pasta – a quick and easy weeknight dinner that’s loved by all, even your picky eaters. This is basically Hamburger Helper from scratch, but so much better, with better ingredients as well. It takes less than 30 minutes on the stove and the ingredients are pretty simple!
This delicious one pot pasta ground beef is so good! Not only that, but it is hearty on its own, but also goes so well with some bread or salad. You can serve it any way you’d like. Nothing is better than a filling meal that is loved by the whole family!
Ingredients Needed
To make this quick one pot creamy beef pasta, you will need these simple ingredients:
Lean ground beef: this is needed to get that nostalgic hamburger helper recipe.
Short pasta: uncooked. Pasta that works for this recipe is elbow, shells, rigatoni, penne, fusilli, and any other short pasta.
Onions and garlic: these aromatics add more flavour to the dish.
Spices: oregano, thyme, garlic powder, and paprika complements this delicious one pot beef pasta perfectly.
Tomato paste and passata: tomato paste adds a beautiful depth to the dish and passata adds a bright tomato flavour. They work so well together!
Beef broth/stock: adds beefy depth to the pasta dish.
Heavy whipping cream: creates a beautifully rich and creamy sauce.
Sharp cheddar cheese: creates a creamy and cheesy sauce. To be completely honest, though, this beef pasta dish is still so good without the cheese!
How to Make One Pot Pasta Ground Beef
Heat a large heavy bottomed pot (such as a cast iron or Dutch oven) over medium high heat. Once hot, add the olive oil. Next, add the onions and cook for about 7 minutes, until soft and translucent. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute, mixing to combine.
Add the ground beef and cook until almost completely browned, breaking the beef up into small pieces as you go. Once the beef is almost completely browned, add the salt, black pepper, oregano, thyme, garlic powder, and paprika, mixing and cooking until the beef has completely browned.
Create space in the center of the pot by pushing the beef aside. Add the tomato paste to the center of the pot and allow it to cook down for 1 minute, stirring in the center. Now combine the tomato paste and ground beef and continue to cook for 1 more minute.
Add the uncooked pasta and mix.
Add the passata, beef broth/stock, and heavy whipping cream. Mix and bring to a boil.
Once boiling, cover, reduce heat to low, and allow it to cook until pasta is al dente and most of the liquid has dried up, about 15-18 minutes. Be sure to stir every now and then to prevent sticking/scorching.
*if you find the pasta is almost al dente but there’s still too much liquid, uncover the pot so that it dries up quicker.
*if you find the liquid has dried up too much and the pasta still isn’t cooked, add about 1/2 cup water (or more, if needed), stir, and continue to cook until al dente.
Add the grated cheese and stir gently until melted. Taste and adjust for salt and spices if needed. Serve topped with finely chopped parsley and chili flakes (optional).
Tips and Tricks
- Use a pot with a heavy bottom. This will help prevent the sauce from sticking/scorching, since there is cream and cheese in this recipe. Dutch ovens and cast irons work well.
- Use your favourite cheese, instead of sharp cheddar cheese. Keep in mind that some cheeses are saltier than others, so you may need to reduce the amount of salt added to the recipe.
- If you have homemade beef stock/broth on hand, use that for the recipe. It will add so much to the recipe!
- Try switching out the ground beef for ground turkey or chicken, for a lighter option.
- Cooking the tomato paste off before combining with the other ingredients will remove its metallic, acidic taste and become rich and nutty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes you can. Make the recipe as normal, let cool, and store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat over the stove and add a splash of whipping cream or beef broth to bring the sauce back together.
If you like recipes like this, then you’ll also like: Cannelloni with Bechamel, Lasagna Bolognese with Bechamel Sauce, Creamy Shrimp Tomato Pasta, Marry Me Chicken Pasta
One Pot Beef Pasta
Description
Rich and creamy beef pasta made all in one pot - quick and easy.
Ingredients
Instructions
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Heat a large pot over medium high heat. Add olive oil. Add onions and begin sautéing until soft and translucent, about 5-7 minutes.
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Add the garlic and cook for about 1 minute.
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Add the ground beef and sauté until almost completely browned. It will take about 7 to 10 minutes.
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Add the salt, black pepper, oregano, thyme, garlic powder, and paprika. Mix and continue to cook until ground beef has completely browned.
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Move the ground beef aside to create space for the tomato paste in the center of the pot. Allow the tomato paste to cook down for 1 minute in the center of the pot before combining with the beef and cooking for another minute.
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Add the uncooked pasta and mix to combine.
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Add the passata, beef broth/stock, and heavy whipping cream, mix, and bring to a boil.
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Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook until pasta is al dente and liquid has mostly dried up, about 15-18 minutes. Stir occasionally to avoid sticking to the bottom.
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Add the grated cheese and mix. Adjust for salt and spices and serve immediately with finely chopped parsley and chili flakes.
