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Quick Ground Beef Pasta Recipe

Quick Ground Beef Pasta Recipe

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Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb (450g) lean ground beef
  • 12 oz (340g) dry pasta (penne, rotini, or rigatoni)
  • 1 medium onion, finely diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 24 oz jar of your favorite marinara sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • Fresh parsley for garnish

Instructions

  1. Step 1: Boil the Pasta. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add your chosen pasta and cook according to the package instructions until it reaches “al dente” texture. Reserve about half a cup of the starchy pasta water before draining the noodles. Set the drained pasta aside.
  2. Step 2: Brown the Beef and Aromatics. While the pasta cooks, place a large skillet or dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and diced onion. Cook until the beef is fully browned and the onions are translucent, breaking the meat into small crumbles with a wooden spoon. Drain any excess grease from the pan to keep the sauce light.
  3. Step 3: Create the Sauce. Lower the heat to medium and stir in the minced garlic, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Cook for one minute until fragrant. Pour in the marinara sauce and stir to combine with the beef. Let the sauce simmer gently for 5 to 7 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
  4. Step 4: Combine and Serve. Toss the cooked pasta into the skillet with the meat sauce. If the sauce looks too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water to loosen it up. Stir in half of the Parmesan cheese. Once everything is well-coated and heated through, remove from heat. Garnish with the remaining cheese and fresh parsley before serving.