Description
This Cheesy Beef Pasta is a hearty and comforting dish perfect for weeknight dinners. Ground beef is cooked with onions, colorful bell peppers, and garlic, then simmered in a tomato sauce with Italian seasoning. Tossed with perfectly cooked rotini pasta and shredded cheddar cheese, this recipe delivers a deliciously cheesy and flavorful meal that’s easy to prepare in just 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Vegetables
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 large onion, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Liquids and Seasonings
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
- 1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Pasta and Cheese
- 8 oz rotini pasta
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Heat oil: In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat to prepare for sautéing the beef and vegetables.
- Cook beef and veggies: Add ground beef, diced onions, and diced green and red bell peppers to the skillet. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the beef is browned and the vegetables are tender, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add garlic: Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute to release its aroma and flavor.
- Simmer sauce: Add the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper to the skillet. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to combine flavors.
- Cook pasta: While the sauce simmers, cook the rotini pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta and set aside.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Mix the cooked pasta into the skillet with the beef and vegetable mixture, ensuring it’s well coated with the sauce.
- Add cheese: Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over the pasta mixture and stir until the cheese is melted and evenly distributed throughout.
- Serve: Serve the Cheesy Beef Pasta hot, garnished as desired, and enjoy your comforting meal.
Notes
- For extra flavor, garnish with fresh chopped parsley or basil.
- You can substitute rotini with other pasta shapes like penne or fusilli.
- Adjust the seasoning to taste, particularly salt and pepper.
- To make it spicier, add red pepper flakes when simmering the sauce.
- Use lean ground beef to reduce the fat content.
