Description
Quick Cheesy Ground Beef Pasta is a flavorful and comforting dish combining al dente ziti pasta with a rich, spiced ground beef sauce and a generous melting of mozzarella cheese. This hearty skillet meal is ready in under 25 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
For the pasta and beef:
- 2.5 cups ziti (Barilla recommended for perfect al dente bite)
- 1.5 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb ground beef (80/20 ratio)
- 1 tsp salt
- 0.75 tsp pepper
- 4 garlic cloves (freshly minced)
- 1.5 tsp red chili flakes
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce (Lea & Perrins preferred)
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 onion (diced)
- 0.5 cup fresh parsley
- 0.5 tsp dried oregano
For the topping:
- 2.5 cups shredded mozzarella (from a block)
Instructions
- Prepare Ingredients: Dice the onion, mince the garlic cloves freshly for optimal flavor, measure parsley, and shred mozzarella from a block to ensure better melting. Have all ingredients ready before cooking.
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add ziti and cook for 1 minute less than package directions to achieve al dente texture. Reserve 0.5 cup pasta water and drain the pasta.
- Brown Ground Beef: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over high heat until shimmering. Add ground beef and cook without stirring for 2 minutes to form a crust. Break up the meat and cook for 3-4 more minutes until mostly browned.
- Sauté Aromatics and Season Beef: Reduce heat to medium. Add salt, pepper, minced garlic, diced onion, and red chili flakes. Cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant and onions soften.
- Add Tomato Paste and Worcestershire Sauce: Stir these into the beef mixture constantly for about 1 minute to caramelize the tomato paste and build flavor.
- Simmer Sauce: Pour in reserved pasta water and add dried oregano. Bring to a simmer and cook undisturbed for 8-10 minutes to meld flavors and reduce liquid slightly.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add cooked ziti to the skillet with the beef sauce. Stir well to coat the pasta evenly.
- Melt Cheese into Pasta: Fold in 1 cup of shredded mozzarella, stirring until it begins to melt into the warm pasta.
- Top with Remaining Cheese and Steam: Sprinkle remaining 1.5 cups mozzarella on top, cover skillet with lid, and let sit for 1-2 minutes to melt the cheese with steam.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from heat, garnish with fresh parsley, and serve immediately while hot and creamy.
Notes
- Using freshly minced garlic and shredding mozzarella from a block enhances flavor and improves cheese melting quality.
- Cooking ziti 1 minute less than package instructions ensures perfect al dente texture that won’t get mushy when combined with the sauce.
- Reserving pasta water to add to the sauce helps loosen and bind it better to the pasta.
- Allowing the initial beef to sear undisturbed helps develop a flavorful crust that enhances the dish’s texture.
- The layering technique of caramelizing tomato paste and adding Worcestershire sauce builds depth in the sauce’s flavor.
- Letting the cheese melt under a lid from steam results in a gooey, melty topping without the need for oven baking.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: ground beef pasta, cheesy pasta, quick dinner, ziti recipe, skillet pasta, weeknight meal
