Description
Cheesy Beef Pasta Skillet is a hearty one‑pan meal featuring rotini pasta, seasoned ground beef, a rich tomato‑cheese sauce, and a creamy finish—perfect for a satisfying weeknight dinner that comes together quickly.
Ingredients
- 12 ounces rotini pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup reserved pasta water
Instructions
- Cook the rotini pasta in a large pot of salted water until al dente according to package instructions. Before draining, reserve ½ cup of the pasta cooking water. Then drain the pasta and set aside.
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it apart, until nicely browned. Drain excess fat if necessary.
- Add the diced onion and minced garlic to the skillet. Sauté for about 2–3 minutes until the onion is softened and garlic is fragrant.
- Stir in the tomato sauce, tomato paste, paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Let everything simmer for about 5 minutes to develop the flavors.
- Add the cooked pasta back into the skillet. Stir gently to coat the pasta in the sauce. If it seems too dry, pour in some of the reserved pasta water until you reach a creamy consistency.
- Sprinkle in the shredded cheddar and Parmesan cheeses. Stir until the cheeses melt and the sauce becomes silky and rich.
- Serve immediately, optionally topping with extra Parmesan or fresh herbs for garnish.
Notes
- Substitute ground beef with ground turkey or chicken for a lighter version.
- For more heat, add crushed red pepper flakes or swap cheddar for pepper Jack cheese.
- Add chopped spinach or diced bell peppers for added vegetables.
- For extra creaminess, stir in a splash of heavy cream or a spoonful of cream cheese just before serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Skillet / One‑Pan
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 of 4 servings
- Calories: ≈550 kcal
- Sugar: ≈6 g
- Sodium: ≈750 mg
- Fat: ≈26 g
- Saturated Fat: ≈12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: ≈10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: ≈52 g
- Fiber: ≈3 g
- Protein: ≈29 g
- Cholesterol: ≈80 mg
