Can I use other types of pasta in the Cheesy Ground Beef Pasta Skillet Recipe?

Absolutely! While ziti is great for holding sauce, penne, rigatoni, or even macaroni will work well. The important part is to cook the pasta just short of al dente so it doesn’t get mushy when combined.

How do I make the recipe spicier or milder?

If you like a bit more heat, feel free to add more crushed red chili flakes or a pinch of cayenne pepper. For a milder version, simply omit the chili flakes altogether. The spices are easy to adjust to your preference.

Can I prepare this recipe ahead of time?

You can cook everything except the final cheese melt step in advance and refrigerate. When ready to eat, just reheat on the stove, stir in the cheese, and cover to melt before serving. It saves you some time on busy days.

What’s the best cheese to use for this recipe?

Mozzarella is ideal for the melty, gooey texture, but you can combine it with cheddar, provolone, or even fontina for a different flavor twist. Just make sure to use shredded cheese to ensure quick, even melting.

Cheesy Ground Beef Pasta: Delicious One-Pan Meal

Description

A hearty and flavorful Cheesy Ground Beef Pasta Skillet combining tender ziti pasta with savory ground beef, rich tomato paste, and gooey mozzarella cheese for a comforting one-pan dinner.

Ingredients

Scale

Pasta

2 cups ziti pasta cooked (see notes)

Main Ingredients

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 pound ground beef
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
3 cloves garlic minced
1 teaspoon crushed red chili flakes (optional)
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 onion chopped
1/2 cup chopped parsley plus more for garnish
salt to taste
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

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Instructions

Cook Pasta: Cook the ziti pasta according to the al dente package directions but reduce cooking time by 1 minute. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water and then drain the pasta without rinsing it.
Brown Beef: Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add the ground beef and cook for about 2 minutes, breaking it up with a wooden spoon until browned.
Simmer Ingredients: Reduce heat to medium. Season the beef with 1 teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Stir in minced garlic, chopped onions, crushed red chili flakes if using, Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, chopped parsley, and the reserved 1/2 cup pasta water (or plain water if preferred). Let it simmer until the meat is tender, about 8 to 10 minutes.
Add Pasta and Cheese: Toss the cooked pasta into the skillet along with 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese. Mix everything together well.
Melt Cheese and Garnish: Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup mozzarella cheese on top of the pasta mixture. Cover the skillet with a lid to allow the cheese to melt. Garnish with additional chopped parsley before serving.

Notes

If you don’t have leftover cooked pasta, follow package instructions to cook ziti pasta to al dente and reduce cooking time by 1 minute before proceeding.
The crushed red chili flakes are optional and can be omitted or adjusted based on your preferred spice level.
Reserve pasta water helps to create a smooth and saucy texture; do not skip this step for best results.
For a lower fat version, substitute lean ground beef or ground turkey.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 570 kcal
Sugar: 4 g
Sodium: 680 mg
Fat: 30 g
Saturated Fat: 14 g
Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
Trans Fat: 0.5 g
Carbohydrates: 43 g
Fiber: 3 g
Protein: 34 g
Cholesterol: 95 mg