One-Pot Tomato Basil Pasta with Ground Beef

By AislePrompt Test Kitchen · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-22 · Updated 2026-04-22

Hearty pasta dish with savory ground beef, sun-ripened tomatoes, and fresh basil, all cooked in one pot for effortless weeknight dining. This italian-inspired pasta ready in about 35 minutes pairs spaghetti, olive oil, medium, finely chopped onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 450 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.

Ingredients

• 8 oz spaghetti
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 medium, finely chopped onion
• 2 cloves, minced garlic
• 1/2 lb ground beef
• 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 cup, chopped fresh basil
• 1/2 cup, grated Parmesan cheese
• to taste salt
• to taste black pepper

Instructions

1. Step 1: Bring large pot of salted water to boil. Add spaghetti and cook 8-10 minutes until al dente; reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain spaghetti.
2. Step 2: Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook 5 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and ground beef, breaking up with spoon, and cook 5 minutes until browned.
3. Step 3: Stir in crushed tomatoes, 1/4 cup water, dried oregano, salt, and pepper. Simmer 5 minutes to blend flavors.
4. Step 4: Add drained spaghetti and 1/4 cup reserved pasta water to skillet. Toss until coated. Stir in chopped basil and cook 2 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in grated Parmesan cheese, and season with additional salt and pepper.