Description
Hearty ground beef pasta combines robust flavors with comforting Italian-inspired ingredients, creating a satisfying meal for family dinners. Savory meat, perfectly seasoned sauce, and tender noodles promise a delightful culinary experience you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 1.5 pounds (680 grams) ground beef, 85% lean
Pasta:
- 0.5 pounds (227 grams) rotini pasta
Sauce and Seasonings:
- 16 ounces (454 grams) tomato sauce
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) chicken broth
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) half and half
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) italian seasoning
Instructions
- Prepare ingredients ahead of time: grate cheddar cheese and measure half and half, allowing them to approach room temperature for smoother sauce integration.
- Heat a large skillet over medium temperature and brown ground beef, breaking into crumbly pieces. Midway through cooking, incorporate diced onions and sauté until translucent, approximately 5 minutes.
- After beef is fully cooked, eliminate excess fat from the skillet. Introduce minced garlic and cook until aromatic. Incorporate Worcestershire sauce, kosher salt, and flour, stirring consistently to prevent flour from burning and remove raw taste.
- Deglaze the pan with chicken broth, using a spatula to lift caramelized meat fragments. Mix in tomato sauce and Italian seasoning. Elevate to a gentle boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes to develop robust flavors.
- Simultaneously, boil salted water in another pot. Cook rotini pasta until al dente, typically 7 minutes. Drain pasta and reserve.
- Gradually stream half and half into the meat sauce, stirring continuously. Reduce heat to low and slowly fold in shredded cheddar cheese, ensuring complete melting and smooth sauce consistency.
- Combine cooked pasta with sauce, gently tossing to ensure uniform coating. Plate immediately and complement with garlic bread for an enhanced dining experience.
Notes
- Grate the cheddar cheese fresh for maximum melting and flavor integration into the sauce.
- Allow half and half and cheese to reach room temperature before adding to prevent clumping and ensure smooth sauce texture.
- Replace wheat flour with cornstarch or gluten-free flour blend to make the recipe suitable for those with wheat sensitivities.
- Swap ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based meat alternatives for different dietary preferences without compromising taste.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg