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    Home » Recipes » Beef » One-Pan Saucy Beef Pasta

    One-Pan Saucy Beef Pasta

    Published: Oct 7, 2020 · Modified: Oct 7, 2020 · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads.

    JUMP TO RECIPE

    Taste, ease, and comfort is what this one-pan saucy beef pasta is all about! Done in about 30 minutes, this pasta dish is going to hit the spot with each bite. Serve it straight from the pan at the table for easy serving and easy clean-up!

    A dark blue cloth next to a dark circular pan containing beef and pasta and a bunch of green parsley

    Delicious, satisfying, comforting...and easy.

    What more could you want from a meal?

    This saucy beef pasta dish is cooked up completely in one pan.

    You could liken it to a bolognese pasta...but without the long cooking time for the sauce!

    All you need is about 30 minutes and you will have dinner on the table...

    ...and you can even serve it straight from the pan AT the table!

    What Ingredients Do I Need?

    Aside from ingredients that you should automatically have like salt, pepper, oil, water, etc., this recipe falls under the "7 Ingredients Or Less" category, giving another reason to put it in the "Must Make" list.

    It all starts with sauteing some finely diced onions and minced garlic in oil in a deep skillet before adding in the ground beef.

    A round frying pan cooking onions and garlic, ground beef, and dry pasta, red wine being added to the pan

    Once the beef is just about cooked through, it's time to add in the dry pasta (no pre-boiling required!). This recipe can easily be made gluten-free by using gluten-free pasta, which is what I did, so use whichever suits your taste or diet.

    After the pasta, add the chicken or beef broth, red wine, and water. It sounds like a lot of liquid, which it is, and that's why you need to make sure you have a deep enough skillet to cook this dish. All that liquid is required to cook the pasta and once it is reduced, that liquid is going to thicken from the pasta starches and make a great sauce.

    A spatula stirring ground beef and dry pasta in liquid in a pan, stirring in red paste, the liquid reducing to a sauce

    Once the pasta is just about done and the liquid has cooked down to a sauce, it's time to stir in tomato paste and season with salt and pepper to taste.

    Depending on the type or shape or brand of pasta you use, the cooking time may vary. If the pasta isn't done by the time the liquid has cooked down, simply add more water or broth (or wine!) in ½ cup increments until the pasta is done to the desired doneness.

    And that is it!

    What Substitutions Can I Use?

    I use penne in this recipe, but you can use any similar sized pasta like rigatoni, gemelli, macaroni, etc. I find it easier to stir these shaped pastas into the sauce without them sticking together in the pan, but that's not to say that long pasta like spaghetti or linguine wouldn't work. I would just make sure to keep the noodles moving at the beginning so they don't clump together.

    As I mentioned above, I used gluten-free pasta, making this recipe easily adaptable for anyone on a gluten-free diet.

    Close-up of a round pan containing saucy ground beef and penne pasta

    This recipe calls for red wine and you can simply use your favorite or whatever you have on hand. You can also omit it, if you prefer, and substitute it with equal parts broth or water.

    Substitute ground turkey or chicken for the beef, and stir in some spinach leaves at the end for some added greens and nutrition.

    If you want to turn this into a vegetarian dish and simply a one-pan saucy pasta, use chopped-up mushrooms, carrots, or your favorite vegetables.

    What Can I Serve With It?

    A light, refreshing salad always pairs well with a pasta dish. Whip one up with your favorite greens and fixings and drizzle it one my homemade dressings:

    • Creamy Greek Yogurt Dressing
    • Orange Honey Mustard Dressing
    • Sweet and Tangy Balsamic Vinaigrette

    Warm up a crusty loaf of bread to wipe up all the lovely pasta sauce, or if you're looking for gluten-free options, considering trying:

    • Cornbread with Honey Butter
    • Parmesan Sage Focaccia
    • or some quick and easy Parmesan Garlic Breadsticks

    Or opt to be a purist and enjoy this meal as it is! Top it simply with some fresh grated Parmesan and chopped parsley to round out the flavors and you have got perfection.

    A dark round bowl containing beef and pasta, topped with grated white cheese and chopped green parsley

    If you're looking for more great tasting dishes that can be cooked in one pan, consider giving these a try:

    • Garlic Shrimp and Spinach One-Pan Pasta
    • Seared Salmon Coconut Curry

    And these can be made in the oven in one pan:

    • One-Pan Roast Chicken and Kale
    • Curry Chicken Rice Bake

    Really, we can never have too many of those sorts of recipes!

    Close-up of a forkful of penne pasta, ground beef, grated white cheese and chopped green parsley

    And there you have it....one-pan saucy beef pasta. In about 30 minutes, you can have this totally satisfying, comforting, hearty and delicious meal on the table and ready to eat. What's not to love?

    ~ Lisa.

    One-Pan Saucy Beef Pasta

    Taste, ease, and comfort is what this one-pan saucy beef pasta is all about! Done in about 30 minutes, this pasta dish is going to hit the spot with each bite. Serve it straight from the pan at the table for easy serving and easy clean-up!
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: dinner, Entrees
    Cuisine: Western
    Keyword: one-pan pasta
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 40 minutes
    Makes: 6 servings
    Calories: 345kcal
    Author: Lisa from A Day in the Kitchen

    Ingredients

    • 1 lb. ground beef
    • 2 tablespoons oil
    • 2 cloves garlic, minced
    • ½ onion, finely diced
    • 1 lb. dry penne pasta, or similar sized pasta
    • 2 cups chicken broth or beef broth
    • 1 ½ cups water
    • 1 cup red wine
    • ⅓ cup tomato paste
    • 1 teaspoon sea salt
    • ½ teaspoon black pepper

    Garnishing (optional):

    • Grated Parmesan cheese
    • Chopped parsley
    • Dried chili flakes

    Equipment

    • 12" Ceramic Nonstick Frypan

    Instructions

    • Heat a large deep skillet or Dutch oven pot over medium-high heat.
    • Add 2 tablespoons oil and saute diced onions and minced garlic for about 1 minute.
    • Add ground beef to the pan and cook through.
    • Add dry penne pasta, broth, water, and wine; stir well and make sure pasta is completely submerged.
    • Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer.
    • Cover and let simmer for 5 minutes.
    • Remove lid and add tomato paste, salt, and pepper and stir well.
    • Continue to simmer uncovered until sauce has thickened and pasta is cooked al dente.
    • Transfer pasta to a serving dish or serve directly from the pan at the table!
    • Garnish with grated Parmesan and chopped parsley, if desired.

    Notes

    • In place of penne, use any similar pasta shape and size.
    • This recipe works with gluten-free pasta (which is what I used).
    • Cooking times for the pasta may vary depending on the brand or type.
    • If the sauce cooks down before the pasta is cooked, add more broth or water to the pan, ½ cup at a time until the pasta is done. Be sure to stir the pasta well after adding the extra liquid.
    • Top with grated Parmesan cheese, chopped parsley, or dried chili flakes, if desired.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 345kcal
    Have you tried this recipe?Mention @dayinthekitchen or tag #adayinthekitchen!



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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sharon

      October 20, 2020 at 12:17 am

      5 stars
      I wanted to make this recipe as soon as I saw it on your instastories last week! Super easy and the kind of dinner that will be in the rotation - we loved it! I don't usually cook with wine as we aren't regular drinkers but now I have a bottle of red handy just for this. Thanks!

      Reply
      • Lisa

        October 20, 2020 at 5:42 pm

        We're not regular wine drinkers either, Sharon, but I wanted to figure out a way to try and incorporate it into some recipes and it totally seemed to work with this dish! Thanks so much for making it and I'm so glad you liked it!

        Reply
    2. Terri

      October 19, 2020 at 11:01 pm

      5 stars
      I'm all about quick and easy beefy one pot pasta meals! This will definitely be added to the rotation !

      Reply
      • Lisa

        October 20, 2020 at 5:40 pm

        Thanks, Terri! I hope you like it!

        Reply
    3. NANCY

      October 15, 2020 at 7:55 am

      5 stars
      love comfort meals! Thanks for sharing this recipe!

      Reply
      • Lisa

        October 20, 2020 at 5:40 pm

        This is definitely a comfort meal...and a quick one!

        Reply
    4. Michelle Lister

      October 08, 2020 at 9:47 am

      5 stars
      I made this tonight for my family and it was a HUGE hit!! Absolutely delicious and so easy to make!! I was hoping I’d have some leftovers for lunch tomorrow but that didn’t happen, everyone went back for seconds and wiped the pan clean!! Five minutes after finishing the family asked when I am making it again!! Thank you so much for such a great recipe Lisa!

      Reply
      • Lisa

        October 08, 2020 at 7:49 pm

        That's awesome, Michelle! I'm so glad it was a hit and that you and your family loved it!

        Reply
    5. John

      October 07, 2020 at 7:49 pm

      Did you leave the ground beef off the ingredient list?

      Reply
      • Lisa

        October 07, 2020 at 7:56 pm

        Thank you so much for pointing out that massive oversight on my part, John! I have corrected the recipe.

        Reply

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    I cook up big ideas in my small kitchen in Hong Kong! My recipes are big on healthy eating, real food, and international flavors that you can create in any size kitchen. I also specialize in gluten-free cooking and baking, demystifying gluten-free and showing you how easy and delicious it can be!

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