Description
This one pot creamy tomato beef pasta is a comforting and flavorful dinner option that combines ground beef, Italian herbs, and a rich tomato cream sauce with pasta cooked directly in the sauce for maximum flavor absorption.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 500g / 1 lb beef mince / ground beef
- 2 tsp Italian herbs
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 400g / 14 oz can crushed tomatoes (or tomato passata)
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (chilli flakes, optional)
- 1 1/2 tsp cooking salt / kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 4 cups (1 L) chicken stock / broth, low sodium
- 350g / 12 oz fusilli, penne, elbow macaroni, or other short pasta
- 3/4 cups thickened / heavy cream
- Parmesan cheese, finely grated
- Parsley, finely chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil on high heat in a large heavy-based pot. Add the minced garlic and chopped onion, cooking for about 1 1/2 minutes until fragrant and slightly softened.
- Add the ground beef to the pot and cook thoroughly, breaking it up with a spatula until no pink remains. Stir in the Italian herbs and cook for 30 seconds. Then add the tomato paste and cook for another 1 minute to remove its raw flavor.
- Stir in crushed tomatoes, chicken stock, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes if using. Mix well, then add the pasta directly into the pot.
- Bring the liquid to a gentle simmer. Cook for about 15 minutes, stirring every couple of minutes and more frequently towards the end, to prevent sticking. Cook until pasta is just tender and has absorbed much of the sauce.
- Pour in the heavy cream and simmer for an additional 1 to 2 minutes, allowing the sauce to become creamy and rich but still saucy enough to coat the pasta well.
- Remove from heat, stir well, and ladle into bowls. Serve topped with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and optional chopped parsley.
Notes
- Use low sodium chicken stock for better control over saltiness.
- Feel free to adjust the spice level by adding more or less red pepper flakes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 610 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 64 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg