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Creamy Ground Beef Skillet Pasta Recipe Easy One-Pan Dinner Idea

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A quick and easy one-pan dinner featuring creamy ground beef and pasta with a velvety sauce made from cream cheese and cheddar. Perfect for busy weeknights, this comforting skillet meal is flavorful and simple to prepare.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound (450 grams) ground beef (80/20 blend recommended)
  • 1 tablespoon (15 ml) olive oil or vegetable oil
  • 1 yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 8 ounces (225 grams) uncooked pasta (elbow macaroni or small shells)
  • 2 cups (475 ml) beef broth or low-sodium stock
  • 2 tablespoons (30 grams) tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (or mix of dried oregano, basil, and thyme)
  • Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream or half-and-half
  • 4 ounces (115 grams) cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup (100 grams) shredded cheddar cheese
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish, optional)

Instructions

  1. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet.
  2. Add 1 pound ground beef and cook, stirring and breaking it apart, until no longer pink and browned, about 6–8 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Drain excess fat if needed, leaving a little for flavor.
  3. Add 1 finely chopped yellow onion and 3 minced garlic cloves to the skillet. Cook until softened and fragrant, about 3–4 minutes.
  4. Stir in 2 tablespoons tomato paste, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, and a pinch of red pepper flakes if using. Cook for 1–2 minutes to deepen flavors.
  5. Pour in 2 cups beef broth and bring to a gentle boil. Add 8 ounces uncooked pasta, stirring to submerge it in the liquid.
  6. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover with a lid, and simmer for about 12 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
  7. Once pasta is tender and most liquid absorbed, reduce heat to low. Stir in 1 cup heavy cream and 4 ounces softened cream cheese until smooth and velvety. Add more broth or cream if sauce is too thick.
  8. Sprinkle 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese over the top. Cover off heat for 2–3 minutes to melt cheese, then stir to combine.
  9. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley before serving.

Notes

Stir pasta occasionally while simmering to prevent sticking. Soften cream cheese at room temperature or briefly in microwave before adding to avoid clumps. Use medium-low heat when simmering pasta to prevent drying out or sticking. For dairy-free, substitute cream cheese and heavy cream with coconut cream and vegan cream cheese. Ground turkey or chicken can be used as leaner alternatives. Gluten-free pasta and broth can be used to make the recipe gluten-free.

Nutrition

Keywords: ground beef pasta, creamy skillet pasta, one-pan dinner, easy weeknight meal, comfort food, creamy beef pasta

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