Description
Ground Beef Pasta is a creamy, savory one-pot meal with tender rigatoni coated in a rich tomato-cream sauce, nestled with seasoned ground beef and topped with parmesan and fresh parsley. I love making it with onion, garlic, crushed tomatoes, and a touch of cream—it’s a simple recipe that brings big comfort with minimal effort. Known by some as creamy beef rigatoni or skillet meat sauce pasta, this dish is perfect for weeknights. I’ve tested versions with mascarpone and heavy cream, and both work beautifully for different moods. Among beef pasta recipes, Ground Beef Pasta stands out for its nostalgic flavor, hearty texture, and ease of cleanup. It’s a must-keep meal for any family dinner rotation.
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, finely diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
0.5 teaspoon red pepper flakes
0.5 teaspoon salt
0.25 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 can (15 ounces) crushed tomatoes
0.5 cup heavy cream
0.5 cup pasta water (reserved)
0.75 pound rigatoni or penne pasta
0.5 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
2. Add the diced onions and cook until soft, about 5 minutes.
3. Stir in the garlic and cook for another 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
4. Add the ground beef, breaking it apart with a spoon. Cook until browned.
5. Season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
6. Stir in tomato paste and cook for 1 minute to deepen the flavor.
7. Add crushed tomatoes and stir. Let simmer for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
8. Reduce heat to low and stir in the heavy cream. Simmer until slightly thickened.
9. Meanwhile, cook the pasta until just shy of al dente. Reserve 0.5 cup of pasta water.
10. Drain the pasta and add it directly to the sauce.
11. Add reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce.
12. Stir in the parmesan cheese until melted and combined.
13. Sprinkle with chopped parsley.
14. Serve warm in shallow bowls, optionally topped with more parmesan.
Notes
Use a wooden spoon to gently break apart the beef without overworking it.
Always reserve pasta water—it helps the sauce cling perfectly.
You can substitute mascarpone for cream if you prefer a slightly tangier finish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Pasta
- Method: Skillet
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (about 1/4 of recipe)
- Calories: 670
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 62g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 34g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
Keywords: ground beef pasta, creamy beef pasta, skillet rigatoni