• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Great Grub, Delicious Treats
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Work With Me

Ground Beef Pasta

May 4, 2023 by Great Grub, Delicious Treats

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

This delicious ground beef pasta recipe is loaded with zesty seasoned ground beef, onions, garlic, cheese, and more. A quick and easy weeknight meal the whole family will surely enjoy.

A white bowl with blue trim filled with a serving of ground beef pasta.

I was a nurse for decades, and during that time I was also a mom. That combination is what taught me early on that recipes that can be made quickly and can also feed a houseful of hungry people are the best ones to keep on hand in your recipe rotation. This rich, creamy, and beefy pasta dish is one that I’ve been making for over 15 years, and I don’t see that changing any time soon. Even though the kids are off on their own with their own families, I still make this dish regularly because I can reheat it a couple of times, making it a great time saver for dinner!

Ground Beef Pasta

This dish starts with ground beef, onions, bell peppers, and jalapenos that I cook until tender. Then, I add garlic and zesty seasonings along with tomato sauce, beef broth, and heavy cream to make a rich, creamy sauce. Finally, I add pasta cooked to al dente perfection, sour cream, and shredded cheese that I stir in to melt. When it’s all said and done, I have a delicious beef and pasta meal that will satisfy even the heartiest eaters, and everyone always loves it.

A horizontal photo of a white bowl with blue trim with a serving of pasta and ground beef.

Why You’ll Love This Ground Beef Pasta Recipe

  • It’s easy to make and can be on the table in no time.
  • It is affordable and ground beef is a relatively inexpensive ingredient.
  • It is a budget-friendly option that is hearty and flavorful and is sure to please everyone at the table.

Ground Beef Pasta Ingredients

This recipe uses several ingredients, but they’re all simple ones that are either in your kitchen already or a just a short jaunt to the grocery store away.

  • Lean ground beef
  • Medium onion
  • Cloves garlic
  • Green bell pepper, diced
  • Jalapeno pepper
  • Slap Ya Mama seasoning
  • Black Pepper
  • Salt
  • Red pepper flakes
  • Tomato sauce
  • Beef broth
  • Heavy cream
  • Sour cream
  • Sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
  • Elbow macaroni
A spoonful of pasta held above the serving bowl.

How to Make Ground Beef Pasta

Making this pasta and beef dish is as simple as gathering up all the ingredients. It just takes a little bit of stove work and mixing. That’s it. The entire thing takes about 30 minutes from start to finish.

Step 1: Cook the Beef, Onions, and Pepper

Cook the beef, onions, bell pepper, and jalapeno in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat until the beef is no longer pink and the vegetables are tender. Drain and return to the pan.

Step 2: Add Garlic and Seasonings

Add the garlic, Slap Ya Mama, salt, and pepper to the beef mixture and cook for 2 more minutes.

Step 3: Add the Sauce Ingredients

Add the tomato sauce, beef broth, and heavy cream to the pot and bring to a boil. Then, reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes.

Step 4: Cook the Pasta

While the beef mixture simmers, boil the pasta in a large pot of water according to the package directions for al dente. Drain and set aside.

Step 5: Finish the Ground Beef Pasta

Add the sour cream to the meat mixture and stir to combine. Then, add the pasta and stir. Finally, add the shredded cheese, stir, and serve hot. Enjoy!

A white bowl with blue trim filled with ground beef pasta.

Recipe Tips

  • For the best texture, cook your pasta to al dente and no further. You don’t want mushy noodles.
  • Stop cooking the ground beef as soon as it’s no longer pink. Overcooking the beef will make it rubbery and tasteless.
  • Turn off the heat before adding the sour cream so it doesn’t break.

Variations

  • You can make this with ground turkey or chicken.
  • Ground pork works well in this dish.
  • Try cubed beef or pork.
  • Try adding a splash of Worcestershire sauce to the dish.
  • Any short noodle variety will work in this recipe.
  • You can use milk in a pinch if you don’t have heavy cream, although the dish will be less rich.

What to Serve with Ground Beef Pasta

This delicious dish is a hearty, complete meal all by itself. I recommend pairing it with a simple salad or your favorite vegetables and some crusty bread or garlic bread.

A horizontal photo of a white bowl with a serving of pasta in it.

Recipe FAQ

What happens if you don’t drain ground beef?

If you don’t drain your ground beef, your recipe will be greasy. How greasy depends on the kind of ground beef you used. In general, you should always drain your ground beef to avoid an overly greasy dish.

Should you drain ground beef for pasta?

You should always drain ground beef for any dish you’re making. Not draining your beef will result in a greasy dish, and it may even make you sick to your stomach.

Can you cook ground beef and pasta in the same pot?

Not really. Most ground beef pasta recipes require the beef to be cooked separately with other ingredients and then drained before adding the sauce and pasta. You can’t sautee pasta, so the only other way to cook beef and pasta in the same pot would be to boil it all at once, which would result in rubbery ground beef.

Why does my pasta get mushy?

If you overcook your pasta, it can get mushy from the agitation of being stirred into the sauce and the extra, carry-over cooking from the other hot ingredients into which you’re stirring your pasta.

Can you make ground beef pasta in advance?

Absolutely. This dish reheats very well, so feel free to make it the day before you plan to serve it if you have more time.

A double collage photo of ground beef pasta.

How to Store and Reheat Leftover Ground Beef Pasta

Store this ground beef pasta in the refrigerator for up to 4 days in an airtight container. For longer storage, you can freeze it for up to 3 months in an airtight, freezer-safe container.

To reheat, place it in a pot and reheat it over low heat until it’s thoroughly warm. ONLY use warm heat so you don’t break the sauce.

Try This Delicious Creamy Beef Pasta Recipe Today

This ground beef pasta recipe is as delicious as it is easy. You’ll be in and out of the kitchen in about half an hour, and you’ll be arriving at the table with a hearty dish that everyone will love. This is a seriously filling dish, making it a great family meal or addition to potlucks. Give it a try, and I know you’ll make it a permanent part of recipe collection.

A three collage photo of ground beef pasta.

More Delicious Pasta Recipes You’ll Enjoy

Italian Sausage Penne Casserole – Loaded with deliciously seasoned Italian sausage, lots of mozzarella cheese and penne pasta, this delicious pasta dish is a family favorite dinner recipe.

Cheesy Hamburger Pasta – A delicious comfort food recipe that is a quick and easy weeknight meal that can be on the table in about 30 minutes.

Classic Lasagna – A hearty and delicious, easy to make Lasagna recipe that has been in the family for over 40 years. Meaty, cheese and so delicious!

Italian Sausage Bow Tie Pasta – Made with Italian sausage, onions, garlic, diced tomatoes, bow tie pasta and LOTS of cheese, this pasta recipe has been family favorite since we were kids.

A white bowl with blue trim filled with a serving of ground beef pasta.

Ground Beef Pasta

Great Grub, Delicious Treats
This delicious and creamy ground beef pasta recipe is hearty, flavorful and makes an easy weeknight dinner recipe that can be on the table in about 45 minutes.
No ratings yet
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 30 minutes mins
Course Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine American
Servings 8 Servings
Calories 789 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 pounds ground beef
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 green bell pepper, diced
  • 1 jalapeno pepper, stem, seeds removed, diced
  • 1 teaspoon Slap Ya Mama seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon black Pepper
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • (2) 15 ounce cans tomato sauce
  • 2 cups beef broth
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 16 ounce elbow macaroni

Instructions
 

  • In a large skillet or Dutch oven, over medium heat, brown ground beef, onions, bell pepper and jalapeno pepper. Cook until meat is no longer pink and vegetables are tender. Drain and return to the pan.
  • Add garlic, Slap Ya Mama, salt and pepper. Stir to combine and cook for two minutes.
  • Pour in tomato sauce, beef broth, and heavy cream. Stir and bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes.
  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook pasta according to package directions for al dente. Drain and set aside.
  • Add sour cream to the meat mixture, stir and then add pasta. Stir.
  • Lastly, add shredded cheese, stir to combine and serve hot.
  • Enjoy with a side salad and crusty bread.

Notes

Nutritional values are approximate.
Please note that these values can change with different brands and any modifications made to the recipe. For the most accurate information, use a nutritional calculator with the exact brands and measurements.

Nutrition

Calories: 789kcalCarbohydrates: 48gProtein: 36gFat: 50gSaturated Fat: 24gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 16gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 159mgSodium: 816mgPotassium: 629mgFiber: 3gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 1152IUVitamin C: 16mgCalcium: 294mgIron: 3mg
Keyword Creamy Ground Beef Pasta, Ground Beef Recipes, Pasta, Pasta Recipes
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Here are a few pics that are perfect to save to your favorite Pinterest boards on Pinterest. Also, you can follow us on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Remember to “like” or “follow” us on all social media.

A white bowl with blue trim filled with a serving of pasta with the title of the recipe at the top.
A close up of a spoonful of ground beef and pasta.
Share
Pin194
Tweet
Email
Print
204Shares

Filed Under: All Recipes, Beef Recipes, Comfort Foods, Main Meals, Pasta Tagged With: Dinner Recipe, Easy Recipes, Quick and Easy Dinner, Quick and Easy Recipes, Quick Weeknight Meal

Primary Sidebar

Please Follow Us On All Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Tumblr
  • Twitter

Welcome to Great Grub, Delicious Treats! Hello, my name is Terri and I'm so glad you stopped by. I'm a self taught cook/foodie at heart, mom to three kids, photographer and have a love for amazing food. I left my full time job of being a hospice admissions RN, which was super tough and extremely sad, and at times, very rewarding to be there for the patients and families to blog full time which I absolutely love. I hope you enjoy, and check out, all of the delicious recipes on my site while you're here! And don't forget to sign up to receive every new recipe right to your email. Thanks again for stopping by! :)

Follow Me on Pinterest

Terri Weir

Subscribe Here

Enter your email address here and never miss a single new recipe.

Most Popular Recipes

Blueberry Cream Cheese Puff Pastry
Caramel Apple Cobbler with Brown Sugar Pecan Crust
Mini Baked Parmesan Potato Rounds
Mississippi Chicken

Recent Posts

  • Blueberry Cream Cheese Puff Pastry
  • Caramel Apple Cobbler with Brown Sugar Pecan Crust
  • Air Fryer Sausage and Potatoes
  • Pancake Bites with Bacon

Footer

Welcome to Great Grub, Delicious Treats! Hello, my name is Terri and I'm so glad you stopped by. I'm a self taught cook/foodie at heart, mom to three kids, photographer and have a love for amazing food. I left my full time job of being a hospice admissions RN, which was super tough and extremely sad, and at times, very rewarding to be there for the patients and families to blog full time which I absolutely love. I hope you enjoy, and check out, all of the delicious recipes on my site while you're here! And don't forget to sign up to receive every new recipe right to your email. Thanks again for stopping by! :) Read More…

White plates with blueberry pastries on them with a white bowl filled with blueberries.
A white bowl with blue trim with a serving of caramel apple cobbler and a scoop of vanilla ice cream in it.
A white plate with blue trim with smoked sausage and potatoes on it.
A stack of pancake bites with bacon in them on a white plate with syrup being drizzled over the top.
A stack of six onion rings on a white plate.
A white plate with blue trim with homemade chicken nuggets on it and a small blue bowl filled with ranch dressing.

Copyright © 2023 · Great Grub Delicious Treats · All Rights Reserved · Privacy Policy

204Shares