This cheesy Italian pasta is one of my new favorite meals. In these wild and crazy times, the last thing that I have the energy for is to create a huge and extensive meal. And once I realized that this simple pasta dish was fast and simple, I knew it was about to become one of my favorite recipes to make.
There is a big agreement in our house that this dish needs to be made more often. And with how simple and easy it is, I can say that I’m 100% fine with that! The fewer steps and cleanup that I have to do, the better.
Just like my homemade cheeseburger macaroni, this easy recipe gives me enough to have leftovers for several days, too! This simple pasta dish really does make meal time and planning a breeze!
For a hearty, delicious meal full of comfort food flavors, I love pairing this with my cinnamon swirl banana bread for dessert. We love it, and I think you will, too!
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Basic Ingredients: This hearty pasta dish is made with simple ingredients like ground beef, pasta, tomatoes, cheese, and seasonings. There’s nothing fancy!
- Easy: This is an incredibly easy recipe that comes together in just about 30 minutes and requires very little cooking experience.
- Hearty and Delicious: Every bite of this dish is loaded with hearty beef, pasta, cheese, and a zesty tomato cream sauce.
- Classic Comfort Food: Beef and pasta in tomato sauce? There’s nothing more comforting than that!
- Customizable: You can easily adjust the ingredients to create your own perfect version.
- Versatile: This is a great meal for a weeknight dinner or potluck dish.
- Great for Meal Prep: This is a freezer-friendly dish, so you can make extra for future meals.
Ingredients
I’ve included a list of all the ingredients you’ll need to make this recipe right here. You’ll find their exact amounts in the recipe card at the end of the post.
- Ground Beef
- Onion and garlic
- Oregano
- Basil
- Pepper
- Red crushed peppers
- Tomato sauce
- Tomato paste
- Diced tomatoes
- Rotel®
- Beef broth
- Mozzarella cheese
- Sour cream (optional)
- Large elbow pasta
Variations
- Ground Beef: You can use ground chicken or turkey for a lower-fat version. Ground Italian sausage or hot Italian sausage also works well.
- Cheesy Mexican Pasta: Add diced jalapenos, black olives, and chorizo in place of ground beef.
- Mild: Omit the red pepper flakes for a mild version of this recipe.
- Sour Cream: Full-fat Greek yogurt works well in place of sour cream, delivering the same texture and flavor.
- Pasta: I love using large elbow pasta, but you can use any short, textured noodle you prefer.
- Extra Cheesy: Sprinkle the top of the pasta after spooning it into bowls for an even cheesier dish.
- Mozzarella: Use a blend of mozzarella and parmesan for more flavor.
How to Make Cheesy Italian Pasta
You’ll find a brief overview of the recipe right here, but the complete instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Cook the beef and onions until the beef is no longer pink. Then, add the garlic and cook until fragrant.
- Add all the remaining ingredients except the pasta, stir, and simmer while you cook the pasta.
- Cook the pasta according to the package directions for al dente. Then, drain and stir into the beef mixture.
- Add the sour cream and shredded cheese, mix well, and serve. Enjoy!
Tips
- I use lean ground beef to skip the draining step. However, if you choose a meat like Italian sausage, chorizo, or fattier ground beef, you’ll need to drain your mixture to avoid a greasy dish.
- It’s important to cook the pasta to al dente and no further. Overcooked pasta will get mushy and break apart when stirred into the hot beef mixture.
- Remove the pasta from the heat before mixing in the sour cream and shredded cheese to avoid curdling.
- Use a folding motion to mix in the pasta to ensure it holds its shape.
Cheesy Italian Pasta FAQ
Cheesy Italian pasta isn’t JUST homemade Hamburger Helper. It’s everything Hamburger Helper wishes it could be. It’s a hearty, beefy, cheesy dish loaded with flavor and zesty seasonings without added ingredients or months of sitting on a shelf.
If you overcook your pasta, it will get too soft when it’s mixed into the beef mixture, causing it to break apart. Be sure you cook your pasta to al dente and no further.
Perfectly cooked al dente pasta will be tender but firm, with an almost chewy texture.
More Delicious Pasta Skillets
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Cheesy Italian Pasta
Ingredients
- 2 pounds lean ground beef
- 1 large yellow onion
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 15 ounce tomato sauce
- 12 ounce tomato paste
- 15 ounce diced tomatoes
- 10 ounce Rotel
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 ½ teaspoon oregano
- 1 ½ teaspoon basil
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon red crushed peppers
- ½ cup sour cream
- 16 ounce large elbow macaroni pasta,
- 4 cups Mozzarella cheese, more if desired
Instructions
- In a large skillet or frying pan, add ground beef and onions. Cook until brown, then add minced garlic and cook for an additional two minutes.
- Add tomato sauce, tomato paste, diced tomatoes, Rotel, beef broth, and seasonings, stir, cover, simmer while pasta is cooking.
- Cook pasta in boiling water for 10 minutes, drain and add to meat mixture. Stir until combined.
- Finally, add sour cream and shredded cheese. Mix well and serve.
Notes
- Refrigerate for up to 4 days in an airtight conatiner.
- Freeze for up to 3 months in an airtight, freezer-safe container.
- Defrost overnight in the fridge if frozen. Then, reheat the entire dish in a pot over medium-low heat or microwave individual portions at 1-minute intervals.
- I use lean ground beef to skip the draining step. However, if you choose a meat like Italian sausage, chorizo, or fattier ground beef, you’ll need to drain your mixture to avoid a greasy dish.
- It’s important to cook the pasta to al dente and no further. Overcooked pasta will get mushy and break apart when stirred into the hot beef mixture.
- Remove the pasta from the heat before mixing in the sour cream and shredded cheese to avoid curdling.
- Use a folding motion to mix in the pasta to ensure it holds its shape.
Nutrition
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