Print

Easy Cheesy Ground Beef Pasta Recipe

Print Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.1 from 15 reviews

This Easy Cheesy Ground Beef Pasta recipe is a comforting and delicious weeknight meal ready in just 25 minutes. Tender penne pasta is combined with a savory, well-seasoned ground beef sauce enriched with tomato paste, diced tomatoes, and creamy cheddar cheese for a satisfying one-pot dinner that the whole family will love.

Ingredients

Pasta

  • 14 oz. penne pasta

Beef Mixture

  • 1.5 lbs. ground beef
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. Italian seasoning
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 Tbsp. tomato paste
  • 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 (14 oz.) can diced tomatoes

Creamy Cheese Sauce

  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • 1.5 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

Instructions

  1. Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the penne pasta according to the package instructions. Just before draining, reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking water. Drain the pasta and return it to the pot it was cooked in.
  2. Brown the Ground Beef: While the pasta cooks, heat a large non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef, season with salt and Italian seasoning. Spread out the meat and cook undisturbed for 4-5 minutes until well-browned on the bottom. Then break up the meat and stir.
  3. Cook Beef Thoroughly: Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until the beef is fully cooked with no pink remaining, about 3-5 more minutes. Drain off excess grease if desired.
  4. Sauté Onions and Garlic: Stir in the chopped onions and minced garlic into the beef. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions soften and become translucent, about 3-4 minutes.
  5. Add Tomato Base: Mix in the tomato paste and Worcestershire sauce thoroughly. Pour in the diced tomatoes with their juices. Stir and cook for 1-2 minutes until heated through.
  6. Make Creamy Cheese Sauce: Pour in the heavy cream and stir for 30 seconds. Add the shredded cheddar cheese and mix well until fully melted and combined into the sauce.
  7. Combine Beef Mixture with Pasta: Add the cheesy beef sauce to the pot containing the cooked pasta. Stir to combine everything evenly.
  8. Adjust Sauce Consistency: Add 2-4 tablespoons of the reserved pasta cooking water to loosen and silkify the sauce to your preference. Taste and adjust salt and pepper accordingly. Serve warm.

Notes

  • Reserving pasta water helps to achieve a silky sauce consistency by adding starchy liquid back into the sauce.
  • Feel free to use part-skim ground beef for a leaner option.
  • You can substitute penne with any pasta shape you prefer, such as rigatoni or fusilli.
  • Adding fresh herbs like basil or parsley as a garnish can brighten the flavors.
  • Leftovers store well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Find it online: https://dishcooks.com/easy-cheesy-ground-beef-pasta-recipe/