This Creamy Meat Sauce One Pot Pasta is a weeknight dinner winner because it is made with just a few ingredients in one pot. There is zero prep work required so you can get this meat sauce pasta dinner on the table in less than 30 minutes.
If you are looking for other one pot pasta dishes, try this sun tried tomato and turkey one pot pasta or this white cheddar mac and cheese.
One-Pot
Easy Clean Up
Quick Look: Creamy Meat Sauce One Pot Pasta
- ⏱️ Prep Time: 2 minutes
- 👩🍳 Cook Time: 23 minutes
- 🕖 Total Time: 25 minutes
- 🍝 Servings: 6 servings
- ⚡️ Calories: 458 calories per serving (based on nutrition panel)
- 🔥 Cooking Method: Make in one pot on the stove
- 🛒 Main Ingredients: Ground beef, marinara sauce, pasta
- ⭐️ Difficulty: Extremely easy, especially since it only uses one pot and just a few ingredients!
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Jessica left this 5 star review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“My family loves this recipe! I make it at least twice a month. It’s easy and delicious. Thank you!!”
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Make ahead – This is a great dish to build a freezer stash for stress-free meals later on
- Only one pot – Less dishes to clean and bonus: you don’t even have to drain the pasta!
- Family Favorite – Simple but delicious flavors make this a hit with the entire family! Even picky eaters usually like this one!
If you are looking for a pasta sauce with some extra veggies, try this veggie packed meat pasta sauce.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Here’s a quick look at the ingredients you need to make this easy creamy meat sauce one pot pasta. For a full list of ingredients and amounts please head to the full recipe.
- Pasta: I like to use elbow, rotini, penne, or fusilli pasta, but feel free to use whatever pasta shape you have on hand. I find that something like spaghetti or linguine does not really work for this one pot pasta recipe. You can also sub gluten free pasta if needed.
- Ground Beef: You can sub this for ground chicken or turkey if you prefer
- Marinara Sauce: the pasta simmers in a mixture of pasta sauce and water to avoid a second pot. This combo soaks into the noodles and adds tons of flavor while cooking the noodles to perfectly al dente. Boost the flavor even more by using chicken broth or veggie broth instead of water.
- Goat Cheese: A few ounces of creamy goat cheese gives the sauce smooth texture as well as a boost of flavor! If you aren’t a fan of goat cheese you can replace it with boursin cheese, cream cheese, ricotta cheese or even blended cottage cheese for extra protein!
Add extra flavor to this dish by garnishing with some freshly grated parmesan cheese, crushed red pepper flakes, fresh basil or even dried Italian seasoning.
Love this ground beef pasta recipe? Try these stuffed shells with meat or this ground beef stroganoff.
How to make Creamy Meat Sauce One Pot Pasta
Step 1: Brown ground beef in a large pot. Break the beef into small crumbles.
Step 2: Add water, marinara, and pasta to the pot. Let it boil and then let it simmer.
Step 3: Add goat cheese and stir to fully mix the sauce.
Step 4: Mix everything together and enjoy!
Mad’s Expert Tips for the Best Creamy Meat Sauce One Pot Pasta 🍝
- Want to add a quick veggie in? -Spinach is an easy veggie to add in if you are looking to add a green to this meal. Just throw spinach in at the end and let it wilt as you mix everything together.
- Use a heavy-bottom pan – If possible, use the thickest bottom pot you own, this allows for even heat distribution and keeps the pasta from sticking. I like to use my dutch oven!
- Break up your meat while it cooks – For evenly cooked meat and for it to cook even faster, break the meat up with the edge of a spatula as it browns.
For another comforting pasta dish, try stuffed shells with meat.
Recipe FAQs
What is the secret to creamy pasta sauce?
Adding the goat cheese is what makes this creamy beef pasta extra creamy!
How to enhance jarred pasta sauce?
Feel free to add sauteed onions or garlic at the beginning to add some extra flavor and depth.
What beef goes well with this pasta?
I recommend using ground beef with this pasta dish. It is easy to cook and allows for everything to be made in one pot!
Storage and Reheating
This pasta is best enjoyed immediately, but if you are saving for later, you can store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Reheat this pasta in the microwave or on the stove top. If you reheat it on the stove top, add a little liquid back into the pot to loosen the sauce.
Other Favorite Pasta Recipes
You can find the full recipe below. If you make this recipe, please rate and review it in the comments, or share it with me on Instagram!
Email Recipe for Later
Recipe
Creamy Meat Sauce One Pot Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 4 cups water
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 1 lb dry pasta
- 2 oz plain goat cheese log not crumbled
Instructions
- Heat a heavy bottom pan like a dutch oven over medium heat and add the ground beef to the hot pan.
- Cook the beef, braking it up into tiny pieces with a wooden spoon until browned, about 5-6 minutes
- Pour marinara sauce, water, and pasta into the pot and stir thoroughly. Increase the heat to high
- Bring the mixture to a boil while stirring frequently
- Once boiling, reduce the heat to a low simmer
- Allow the mixture to simmer covered for 14 minutes while stirring frequently
- After 14 minutes, test the pastam it should be almost completely cooked and soft
- Turn off the burner and stir in the got cheese until fully melted into the pasta
- Best if enjoyed immediately, but can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days
Recipe Notes
- Spinach is an easy veggie to add in if you are looking to add a green to this meal. Just throw spinach in at the end and let it wilt as you mix everything together.
- If possible, use the thickest bottom pot you own, this allows for even heat distribution and keeps the pasta from sticking.
- For evenly cooked meat and for it to cook even faster, break the meat up with the edge of a spatula as it browns.
Nutrition Information
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
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