Creamy Ground Beef Pasta Recipe
This creamy ground beef pasta dish combines tender rigatoni with a rich, flavorful sauce made from browned ground beef, aromatic herbs, and a luscious blend of marinara and heavy cream. It’s a comforting and satisfying meal that’s quick to prepare, perfect for weeknight dinners.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients
Scale
For the Meat Sauce
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 cup beef broth
- 2 cups marinara sauce (or tomato based pasta sauce)
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup heavy whipping cream (or half and half)
For the Pasta
- 12 ounces rigatoni (rotini, penne or other medium pasta)
- Salt (for pasta water)
Instructions
- Brown the Beef and Onion: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef and finely diced onion until the beef is no longer pink. Drain off any excess fat to keep the sauce from becoming greasy.
- Add Herbs and Spices: Stir in the dried basil, oregano, and garlic powder with the browned meat. Cook for an additional minute to toast the herbs and release their flavors.
- Simmer Sauce: Pour in the marinara sauce, beef broth, tomato paste, and salt. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for 5 to 7 minutes until slightly thickened. Then add the heavy cream, stirring to combine, and let it simmer another 5 minutes to create a creamy texture.
- Cook Pasta: While the sauce simmers, cook the rigatoni in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package directions until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of the pasta water before draining the pasta. Do not rinse the pasta as the starch helps the sauce cling better.
- Toss Pasta with Sauce: Add the cooked rigatoni directly to the simmering sauce. Toss to coat the pasta evenly, adding some reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce. Simmer together for 2 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken further.
- Season and Serve: Taste and adjust the seasoning with additional salt and freshly ground black pepper as desired. Serve hot for a comforting and flavorful meal.
Notes
- Use half and half instead of heavy cream for a lighter sauce if preferred.
- Do not rinse the pasta after cooking; the starch helps sauce cling to pasta better.
- Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency if needed.
- Ground turkey or chicken can be substituted for beef for a leaner option.
- Fresh herbs can be used instead of dried for a more vibrant flavor, adjust quantity accordingly.
Keywords: creamy ground beef pasta, easy pasta recipe, comfort food, creamy pasta sauce, weeknight dinner
Find it online: https://platedandproud.com/creamy-ground-beef-pasta-recipe/
