Creamy Beef Pasta

Name: Creamy Beef Pasta
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients: 2 tbsp olive oil; 1 yellow onion, diced; 2 lb lean ground beef, 90/10 preferred; 3 clove garlic cloves, minced; 1 tsp dried basil; 1 tsp dried oregano; 2 tsp kosher salt; 0.5 tsp crushed red pepper flakes; 0.25 cup all-purpose flour; 28 oz plain tomato sauce; 1 cup beef broth, low-sodium preferred; 1 lb rotini pasta; 1 cup heavy cream; 2 cup sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated; fresh parsley for garnish

Hearty Ground Beef Pasta with Tomato Cream

Two pounds of seasoned ground beef meets tangy tomato sauce and rich cream for a pasta dish that satisfies the hungriest crowd. The flour-thickened base creates a sauce that clings to every spiral of rotini without being heavy.

AmericanDinnerComfort FoodQuick MealsKid FriendlyOne PotBeef

Prep15 min

Cook30 min

Total45 min

Servings6

Difficultyeasy

Ingredients

2 tbspolive oil
1 yellow onion, diced
2 lblean ground beef, 90/10 preferred
3 clovegarlic cloves, minced
1 tspdried basil
1 tspdried oregano
2 tspkosher salt
½ tspcrushed red pepper flakes
¼ cupall-purpose flour
28 ozplain tomato sauce
1 cupbeef broth, low-sodium preferred
1 lbrotini pasta
1 cupheavy cream
2 cupsharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated
fresh parsley for garnish(optional)

Instructions

Warm the olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium heat. Toss in the diced onion and cook for 5-6 minutes until it's soft and translucent. Add the ground beef, breaking it up with a spoon, and cook until no pink remains — about 8 minutes. Drain any excess fat from the pan.
⏱ 6 min
Sprinkle the minced garlic, basil, oregano, salt, red pepper flakes, and flour over the beef mixture. Stir constantly for 1 minute to toast the spices and cook out the raw flour taste — this step builds the sauce's foundation.
⏱ 1 min
Pour in the tomato sauce and beef broth, stirring well to combine and eliminate any flour lumps. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer for 15 minutes. The sauce will thicken as it reduces.
⏱ 15 min
While the sauce simmers, bring a large pot of salted water to boil and cook the rotini according to package directions until al dente. Reserve a cup of pasta water before draining — you might need it later.
Stir the heavy cream into the meat sauce first, then add the drained pasta and toss to coat. Add the grated cheddar in handfuls, stirring until each addition melts completely. If the sauce seems too thick, splash in some reserved pasta water.
Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve immediately in bowls, topped with chopped fresh parsley if you like the color and brightness it adds.