This easy ground beef pasta recipe is easy, quick, and ready in 30 minutes. This pasta with ground beef in tomato sauce is packed full of flavor, comforting, filling, and makes a great dinner option for busy weeknights. Serve on it's own or with a side of garlic bread and roasted vegetables.
500g (1lb)Pastafusilli, penne, rigatoni, gnocchi, or any type of short pasta
500g (1lb)Ground beef
400gchopped tomatoes or Passata
1mediumOnionchopped
3clovesGarlicminced
¼teaspoonBasil
¼teaspoonOregano
½teaspoonParsley
10gBeef stock cubes
½teaspoonCayenne or Black pepperor to taste
1tablespoonWorcestershire sauce
2tablespoonOilvegetable or sunflower oil
Salt to taste
Instructions
Cook the ground beef sauce- Place a skillet on medium heat. Add oil, then add chopped onions and garlic. Saute for 1-2 minutes then add ground beef. Break the beef up, stir and cook till it is no longer pink.If using fatty meat, drain the fat at this point.
Add passata or chopped tomatoes or pasta sauce, basil, oregano, parsley, Worcestershire sauce, black or cayenne pepper, beef stock cubes, and salt. Stir and cook on medium heat for 15-20 minutes.
Cook the pasta- Add water to a deep pot, and bring to a rapid boil then add salt, and pasta. Stir the pasta, and cook till it's al dente. This takes between 6-10 minutes if using short pasta. When it's cooked, reserve ¼ cup of pasta water then drain the pasta in a colander.
Mix pasta and ground beef sauce- Add the boiled pasta to the sauce, pasta water, and cheese (optional) and stir till all are well combined.Cook for 1-2 minutes and take the skillet off the heat.
Serve- It's best served immediately.
Notes
Creamy ground beef pasta- Make it creamy by adding a cup of heavy cream into the sauce before adding the pasta. If adding cream, then don't add the pasta water.
Don't overcook the pasta. Check for doneness, take off the heat and drain immediately until it's cooked as you like it.
You can make the sauce ahead to cut down on the cooking time.
Add vegetables like chopped carrots, and peas to the sauce for more nutrients.
It's best to use low-fat beef or to drain the fat from beef before adding tomato sauce and other ingredients.
Adjust pepper and seasoning to your taste.
The dried herbs can be substituted for a tablespoon of Italian seasoning.
You can make it cheesy ground beef pasta by adding cheese to the sauce before adding pasta or adding parmesan to serve.
If making it creamy, use cream as any other type can make the sauce curdle.
You can double the recipe if you like.
Turn it into pasta bake by pouring it into a baking dish, top with cheese, and baking it in the oven till the cheese is melted.