Description
A comforting, wallet-friendly pasta dish featuring ground beef in a luscious tomato-cream sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz pasta of choice (penne, rigatoni, or fusilli)
- 1 lb ground beef (80/20 recommended)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Fresh basil, for garnish (optional)
- Parmesan cheese, for serving
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package directions until just al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water, then drain and set pasta aside.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and sauté until soft and translucent, about 3–4 minutes.
- Add the minced garlic and cook for 30–45 seconds, until fragrant.
- Increase heat to medium-high and add the ground beef. Break it up with a spoon and cook until browned, about 5–7 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
- Pour in the diced tomatoes (with juices) and stir to combine. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
- Reduce heat to medium-low and stir in the heavy cream and Italian seasoning. Simmer for 5–7 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of reserved pasta water.
- Add the cooked pasta to the skillet. Toss until every piece is coated in sauce. Warm through for 1–2 minutes.
- Serve immediately topped with fresh basil and grated Parmesan.
Notes
For a richer sauce, adjust the amount of cream. Pair with a crisp salad or garlic bread for a complete meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
Keywords: pasta, beef, creamy sauce, easy dinner, weeknight meal, Italian recipe