Cheesy Ground Beef Pasta Skillet

This Cheesy Ground Beef Pasta Skillet is the ultimate comfort food. Seasoned ground beef, mozzarella cheese, and a zesty tomato sauce with just a little heat come together to create a filling dish that will leave everyone full and happy.

forkful of cheesy ground beef pasta skillet being removed from a bowl.

As an Italian and an honorary Italian (as my family likes to call my husband) we love our beefy, cheesy, tomato flavors. This delicious skillet is our Italian-inspired take on that old boxed stand-by Hamburger Helper. It’s hearty, delicious, and just about the best thing you’ll ever make in a skillet.

bowl full of cheesy ground beef pasta skillet.

❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • It uses just a few simple ingredients.
  • It’s an easy, one-pan dish that’s ready in just minutes.
  • It’s hearty and flavorful, satisfying even the biggest eaters.
  • It’s a great recipe for family dinners or potlucks.

🛒Ingredients

This is a simple recipe that uses just a few simple ingredients you can find in your kitchen or your local grocery store. We’ve listed them all here, but you can find their exact amounts in the recipe card at the end of the post.

  • Cooked penne pasta
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Ground beef
  • Ground black pepper
  • Minced garlic
  • Red pepper flakes
  • Worcestershire sauce
  • Tomato paste
  • White onion – chopped
  • Italian seasoning
  • Salt to taste
  • Shredded mozzarella cheese

🔪 How to Make Cheesy Ground Beef Pasta Skillet

Making this recipe is as easy as shopping for the ingredients. It only takes a few simple steps and about 30 minutes from start to finish.

Step 1: Cook the Pasta

Cook the pasta 1 minute less than the package directions call for. Drain and reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water.

ground beef and onions being added to a skillet.

Step 2: Cook the Beef

Add the oil to a large skillet and cook the ground beef over medium-high heat until no longer pink.

Step 3: Add the Sauce Ingredients

Add the salt, pepper, garlic, onion, red pepper flakes, Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, Italian seasonings, and the pasta water and stir. Simmer for 8 to 10 minutes.

pasta and ground beef being mixed in a large skillet.

Step 4: Add Cheese and Pasta

Add the pasta and 1 cup of mozzarella cheese and stir. Top with the remaining cheese, cover, and continue cooking for about 5 minutes until the cheese is melted. Enjoy!

📝Variations

  • Mild: Omit the red pepper flakes for a mild version.
  • Meat: Make this skillet with ground beef, ground pork, or Italian sausage.
  • Vegetables: Try adding mushrooms and/or green peppers.
  • Pasta: Any short, textured pasta will work in this recipe.

If you love easy beef skillet recipes like this one, then try our skillet enchilada pasta.

🥄 Equipment

  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Large skillet
  • Large pot
  • Strainer

🥫 Storage

Refrigerate this dish for up to 3 days in an air-tight container. For longer storage, freeze it in an air-tight, freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bag with as much air removed as possible. Defrost before reheating.

To reheat the dish, place it in a skillet with just a bit of water and cook over medium-low heat until heated through.

skillet full of ground beef pasta.

What to Serve with This Cheesy Ground Beef Skillet

Serve this skillet with some garlic bread, garlic knots, or thick, buttered toast on the side. It also pairs well with your favorite vegetables.

💭 Tips

  • Only cook your ground beef until it’s no longer pink. Overcooking makes it tough and bland.
  • It’s important to use reserved pasta water for the sauce. The starch in the water thickens the liquid.
  • To avoid watery, stinging eyes, refrigerate your onion for about an hour before chopping it.

⁉️ FAQ

Do you have questions about this recipe? Here are the answers to the most commonly asked questions.

What does pasta water do in sauces?

Pasta water is full of starch released by the pasta as it cooks in the water. The starch in the water helps thicken sauces without adding flour or cornstarch.

How do you know when ground beef is done?

Ground beef is fully cooked when it’s no longer pink. It’s important to stop cooking it at that point, or you’ll dry it out.

Why did my pasta get mushy in my skillet?

Pasta should be just a bit undercooked to prevent it from getting mushy. The pasta will continue to cook in the skillet when it’s added to the other ingredients.

🍽 More Recipes

Do you enjoy skillets? Then try these delicious recipes:

🧾Recipe Card

Want to make this recipe? Print the recipe card below, or pin this recipe, so you can find it later.

forkful of cheesy ground beef pasta skillet being removed from a bowl.

Cheesy Ground Beef Pasta Skillet

This cheesy ground beef pasta skillet is a quick and easy comfort food recipe loaded with beef, cheese, Italian seasoning and pasta.
4 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 4 Servings
Calories: 617kcal

Equipment

  • large pot
  • large skillet

Ingredients

  • 3 cups cooked penne pasta
  • 1 Tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 lb. ground beef
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 Tablespoons minced garlic
  • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 Tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 small white onion chopped
  • 1 tablespoon italian seasoning
  • salt to taste
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions

  • Cook penne 1 minute less to package directions and reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water.
  • Add olive oil to a large skillet over medium-high heat and brown ground beef. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Add garlic, onion, red pepper flakes, Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, italian seasoning, and 1/2 pasta water and stir. Simmer for 8-10 minutes. Add pasta and 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese and stir.
  • Top with remaining cheese and cover for about 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted.

Notes

Any nutritional data I provide is an approximation and actual dietary information can vary based on ingredients and proportion sizes.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Serving | Calories: 617kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 39g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 16g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 125mg | Sodium: 556mg | Potassium: 566mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 676IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 350mg | Iron: 4mg
4 from 1 vote

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Recipe Rating




One Comment

  1. Cindy Boyd says:

    4 stars
    I would like it a little more saucy.