Description
This Creamy Ground Beef Pasta recipe combines tender rigatoni with a rich, flavorful sauce made from lean ground beef, aromatic herbs, marinara, and a touch of heavy cream. Perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner, it comes together quickly and delivers a satisfying, creamy pasta dish that everyone will love.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Vegetables
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
Spices and Herbs
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
Liquids and Sauces
- 1 cup beef broth
- 2 cups marinara sauce or tomato-based pasta sauce
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- ¾ cup heavy whipping cream or half and half
Pasta
- 12 ounces rigatoni, rotini, penne, or other medium pasta
Instructions
- Brown the Beef and Onion: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef and finely diced yellow onion until the beef is fully browned and no pink remains. Drain any excess fat to keep the dish lean.
- Add Herbs and Spices: Stir in the dried basil, dried oregano, and garlic powder. Cook this mixture for about 1 minute to release the flavors.
- Simmer Sauce Base: Add the marinara sauce, beef broth, tomato paste, and salt to the skillet. Bring everything to a gentle simmer and cook for 5 to 7 minutes until the sauce slightly thickens.
- Add Cream and Continue Simmering: Pour in the heavy cream (or half and half) and continue to simmer the sauce for an additional 5 minutes to blend the flavors and achieve a creamy texture.
- Cook Pasta: While the sauce simmers, cook the rigatoni in salted boiling water according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of the pasta cooking water before draining the pasta well. Do not rinse.
- Toss Pasta with Sauce: Add the cooked pasta directly to the skillet with the sauce. Toss to coat the pasta evenly, adding reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce.
- Final Simmer and Season: Simmer the pasta and sauce together for 2 more minutes to thicken slightly. Adjust seasoning with additional salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste before serving.
Notes
- You can substitute heavy cream with half and half for a lighter version, though the sauce may be less thick.
- Reserve pasta water is important for helping the sauce stick to the pasta and adjusting consistency.
- Feel free to add grated Parmesan cheese on top when serving for extra flavor.
- Use lean ground beef to reduce excess grease in the dish.
- Any medium pasta shape like penne, rotini, or rigatoni works well with this creamy sauce.
