Description
Ground Beef Pasta is a quick and satisfying dinner that combines simple ingredients into a comforting meal everyone will love. It’s perfect for weeknights, easy to customize, and delicious enough to keep on your regular dinner rotation.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 12 ounces elbow macaroni (or other short pasta)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (24-ounce) jar marinara sauce
- 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
- Add the diced onion and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until softened.
- Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it into small crumbles. Drain any excess grease.
- Stir in the marinara sauce, diced tomatoes, Italian seasoning, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.
- Simmer for 8 to 10 minutes so the flavors blend together.
- Add the cooked pasta and stir until every piece is coated with the sauce.
- Sprinkle the mozzarella and Parmesan over the top. Cover for 2 to 3 minutes until the cheese melts.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately.
Notes
- Cook the pasta just until al dente to prevent it from becoming soft.
- Fresh garlic gives the best flavor.
- Drain excess grease from the beef for a lighter sauce.
- Add a splash of pasta water if the sauce becomes too thick.
- Freshly grated Parmesan melts and tastes better than pre-grated.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6 servings
- Calories: 495 per serving