Name: Simple Beef Pasta Skillet
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: American-Italian
Ingredients: 12 oz medium pasta shells; 1 lb ground beef; 2 Tbsp olive oil; 1/2 onion, diced; 2-3 c baby spinach; 2 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes (juices included, don’t drain); 3 Tbsp tomato paste; 1 cup beef broth; 2 tsp Italian seasoning; 3-4 garlic cloves, minced; 1/4 – 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper; 1/2 tsp cracked pepper; 1/2 tsp salt; 1 cup reserved pasta water; 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese; 1/2 cup heavy cream

Description

This Simple Ground Beef Pasta recipe is a perfect pasta dish the whole family will love! Ready in under 30 minutes, this easy cheesy pasta dinner is packed with spinach, tomatoes and just the right amount of Italian Seasoning.

Ingredients

Scale

12 oz medium pasta shells
1 lb ground beef
2 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 onion, diced
2–3 c baby spinach
2 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes (juices included, don’t drain)
3 Tbsp tomato paste
1 cup beef broth
2 tsp Italian seasoning
3–4 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 – 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
1/2 tsp cracked pepper
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup reserved pasta water
3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup heavy cream

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Instructions

Step: Cook pasta according to pasta directions for al dente. When draining, reserve about 1 cup of the pasta water for later. Toss pasta with about 1 tablespoon olive oil if ready much before the meat and set aside.
Step: While pasta is cooking, in a large skillet, heat one tablespoon olive oil over medium-high heat. When glistening, add onion and cook 1-2 minutes. Add in ground beef and brown, stirring regularly. Drain any excess oil.
Step: When beef is cooked, add in spinach, tomatoes, broth, tomato paste, garlic, seasonings, salt and pepper. Cook until spinach is wilted and ingredients are combined.
Step: Turn heat to medium-low and add in 1/2 cup reserved pasta water, heavy cream and parmesan. Stir to combine and simmer for several minutes to allow to thicken and for parmesan to completely melt into the sauce. Add more starchy pasta water to thin sauce out as desired.
Step: Add in pasta and toss to combine. Simmer another couple of minutes to allow the sauce to thicken a bit more and fully coat the pasta.
Step: Top with fresh parmesan, chopped basil and/or chopped parsley and serve.

Notes

The original recipe used a full 16 oz. box of pasta, but 12 oz. is recommended for the best sauce-to-pasta ratio. Reserved pasta water is the secret ingredient for binding the sauce to the shells.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American-Italian

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 522 kcal
Sugar: 4 g
Sodium: 424 mg
Fat: 24 g
Saturated Fat: 10 g
Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 48 g
Fiber: 3 g
Protein: 28 g
Cholesterol: 82 mg