One-Pot Ground Beef and Tomato Pasta
A hearty, simple one-pot pasta dish with ground beef simmered in a rich tomato sauce, perfect for busy weeknights. This Italian-inspired meal-prep recipe, ready in about 35 minutes, pairs ground beef, olive oil, yellow onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 480 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium, diced yellow onion
- 3, minced garlic cloves
- 14 oz can diced tomatoes
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
- 12 oz penne pasta
- to taste salt
- to taste black pepper
- 1/2 cup, grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsp, chopped fresh parsley
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add 1 lb ground beef and cook for 5-6 minutes, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and no longer pink.
- Step 2: Add 1 medium diced yellow onion and 3 minced garlic cloves to the beef. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until the onion softens and the mixture is fragrant.
- Step 3: Stir in 14 oz canned diced tomatoes, 2 tbsp tomato paste, 2 cups beef broth, 1 tsp dried oregano, 1 tsp dried basil, and 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes. Bring the mixture to a simmer.
- Step 4: Add 12 oz penne pasta, making sure the pasta is submerged in the liquid. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 12-15 minutes, stirring occasionally until the pasta is tender and the sauce thickens.
- Step 5: Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Remove from heat and stir in 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese until melted and creamy.
- Step 6: Garnish with 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley before serving.









