30-Minute Ground Beef Pasta That Feels Extra Cozy
Creamy beef pasta is a rich, comforting one-pot dinner with ground beef, tender pasta, and a velvety tomato-cream sauce perfect for cozy nights.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground beef (85/15 or 90/10)
- 12 oz short pasta (penne, rotini, rigatoni)
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1–2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 cup beef broth (low-sodium)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Optional: red pepper flakes, fresh parsley
Instructions
- Heat oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Sauté diced onion for 4–5 minutes until soft. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds.
- Add ground beef, season, and cook until browned. Drain excess fat.
- Stir in tomato paste and cook 1–2 minutes.
- Pour in beef broth, scraping up browned bits. Simmer 2–3 minutes.
- Add cream and bring to a simmer. Cook 5–7 minutes to thicken.
- Meanwhile, cook pasta until al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water and drain.
- Add pasta to sauce and toss to coat. Stir in Parmesan. Adjust seasoning.
- Add pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce. Garnish with parsley and serve.
Notes
- Substitute beef with ground turkey for a lighter option.
- Store leftovers in the fridge up to 4 days.
- Add vegetables like spinach or mushrooms for extra nutrients.