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One Pot Creamy Tuscan Ground Beef Pasta Recipe

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A quick and easy one-pot pasta dish with savory ground beef, sun-dried tomatoes, and a velvety cream sauce. Ready in under 40 minutes, this comforting meal is perfect for busy weeknights.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ground beef (80/20 recommended)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 small yellow onion, diced
  • ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes (oil-packed), drained and chopped
  • 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 2 cups chicken or beef broth
  • 8 ounces short pasta (penne, rigatoni, or fusilli)
  • 3 cups fresh spinach
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Brown the ground beef: Place your Dutch oven over medium-high heat and add the olive oil. Once it shimmers, add the ground beef, breaking it apart with your wooden spoon. Let it cook undisturbed for 3-4 minutes to develop a good sear. Then stir and continue cooking until the beef is browned all the way through, about 5-6 minutes total. If there’s excess fat, spoon most of it out, leaving about 1 tablespoon in the pot.
  2. Sauté the aromatics: Reduce the heat to medium. Add the diced onion and cook for 3-4 minutes until it turns translucent and starts to soften. Add the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant. If the pot looks dry, add a splash of the broth to loosen things up.
  3. Add the tomatoes and seasonings: Stir in the chopped sun-dried tomatoes, the can of diced tomatoes (with their juices), dried oregano, and red pepper flakes if using. Let this cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  4. Pour in the liquids: Add the chicken broth and heavy cream to the pot. Stir everything together until the sauce is uniform. Bring it to a gentle boil.
  5. Add the pasta: Pour in the dry pasta and stir to make sure every piece is submerged in the liquid. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the pot with the lid slightly ajar, and let it simmer. Set a timer for 12 minutes.
  6. Stir halfway through: After 6 minutes, remove the lid and give the pasta a good stir. Scrape the bottom of the pot to make sure nothing is sticking. If it looks too thick, add a splash more broth.
  7. Add the spinach and Parmesan: After 12 minutes, check the pasta for doneness. It should be al dente. If it’s still too firm, cook for another 2-3 minutes with the lid on. Once the pasta is where you want it, remove the pot from the heat. Add the fresh spinach and grated Parmesan, then stir gently until the spinach wilts and the cheese melts into the sauce, about 1 minute.
  8. Rest and serve: Let the pasta sit off the heat for 2-3 minutes before serving. This allows the sauce to thicken to the perfect consistency. Give it one final stir, taste and adjust salt and pepper, then serve immediately.

Notes

Don’t rinse the pasta; the starch helps thicken the sauce. Season in layers for depth of flavor. Keep heat at medium-low to low after adding cream and broth to prevent curdling. Let the dish rest for 2-3 minutes before serving for the sauce to thicken properly.

Nutrition

Keywords: one pot pasta, creamy Tuscan pasta, ground beef pasta, easy weeknight dinner, comfort food

Find it online: https://novanosh.com/one-pot-creamy-tuscan-ground-beef-pasta-recipe/