Description
Hearty One Pot Creamy Tomato Beef Pasta delivers rich comfort straight from an Italian kitchen, blending robust beef and silky sauce. Robust flavors meld seamlessly, creating a luxurious meal you’ll savor with pure culinary satisfaction.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 4 cups (1 L) chicken stock/broth, low sodium
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 onion (finely chopped)
- 2 garlic cloves (finely minced)
- 14 oz can crushed tomatoes (or tomato passata)
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
Pasta and Seasonings:
- 12 oz fusilli (or penne, elbow macaroni)
- 2 teaspoons Italian herbs
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cooking salt/kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3/4 cups thickened/heavy cream
Serving:
- Parmesan cheese (finely grated)
- Parsley (finely chopped, optional)
Instructions
- Prepare a large heavy-based pot and heat oil over high temperature, creating a sizzling surface for maximum flavor development.
- Introduce minced garlic and onion, sautéing for approximately 90 seconds until fragrant and translucent.
- Add ground beef, methodically breaking it apart, cooking until no pink remains visible. Sprinkle Italian herbs and toast for 30 seconds to enhance aromatic qualities.
- Incorporate tomato paste, stirring continuously for one minute to eliminate raw undertones and develop deeper flavor complexity.
- Pour in crushed tomatoes, chicken stock, seasonings, and optional red pepper flakes. Integrate uncooked pasta directly into liquid mixture.
- Reduce heat and allow mixture to simmer, gently stirring every few minutes to prevent pasta from adhering to pot bottom. Continue cooking for 15 minutes until pasta approaches al dente texture.
- Drizzle cream into the mixture, maintaining gentle simmer for an additional 1-2 minutes. Sauce should remain luxuriously loose and glossy.
- Remove from heat, vigorously stir to distribute ingredients evenly and create harmonious texture.
- Transfer to serving bowls, garnishing with freshly grated parmesan and chopped parsley.
- Select short pasta varieties like penne or macaroni, avoiding tiny shapes. Long pasta can be halved for optimal cooking.
- Refrigerate leftovers, consuming within three days. Not recommended for freezing due to potential texture degradation.
Notes
- Customize herbs by blending your favorite dried spices for a personalized flavor profile that matches your taste preferences.
- Swap beef with ground turkey or plant-based protein crumbles to create a lighter, diet-friendly version that maintains the dish’s rich, comforting essence.
- Use low-sodium stock and control salt levels during cooking to make the recipe more heart-healthy and suitable for those monitoring sodium intake.
- For a dairy-free alternative, replace cream with coconut milk or cashew cream, which adds a creamy texture while accommodating lactose-intolerant diners.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 625 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 740 mg
- Fat: 34 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 115 mg