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!
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
If you're looking for more great tasting dishes that can be cooked in one pan, consider giving these a try:
And these can be made in the oven in one pan:
Really, we can never have too many of those sorts of recipes!
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
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
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.
Sharon
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!
Lisa
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!
Terri
I'm all about quick and easy beefy one pot pasta meals! This will definitely be added to the rotation !
Lisa
Thanks, Terri! I hope you like it!
NANCY
love comfort meals! Thanks for sharing this recipe!
Lisa
This is definitely a comfort meal...and a quick one!
Michelle Lister
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!
Lisa
That's awesome, Michelle! I'm so glad it was a hit and that you and your family loved it!
Matthew M
I stumbled across this recipe, and I'm about to make it. There's nothing more satisfying than a beef pasta dish made with stock and a little tomato paste that's also so quick to make!!! Thank you for this! 🙂
Lisa
Hi Matthew! Thanks for the comment! I hope you enjoyed the dish!
John
Did you leave the ground beef off the ingredient list?
Lisa
Thank you so much for pointing out that massive oversight on my part, John! I have corrected the recipe.