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Home / Recipes

Creamy Meat Sauce One Pot Pasta

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By: Madeline Tague

Updated: June 5, 2024

This site may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Creamy Meat Sauce One Pot Pasta is a quick and delicious meal that you can make with just one pot and a few simple ingredients. This cozy, comforting meat sauce pasta comes together in less than 30 minutes. Feed your family this simple one pot pasta that everyone will enjoy.

Above view of creamy meat sauce one pot pasta in a pot with a wooden serving spoon

One-pot

Easy cleanup

You’ll Learn: Tips for selecting the best ingredients for flavor and ease

Worth It: It builds a freezer stash for stress-free meals later

Bonus: You don’t even have to drain the pasta

Above view of creamy meat sauce one pot pasta in a pot with a wooden serving spoon

The one pot pasta hype is real

I have no idea how its taken me so long to jump on the one pan pasta train, but I am so glad that I finally did. Earlier this week I really needed to make it through some ground beef in my freezer and I came up with this creamy meat sauce one pot pasta.

So everyone know that making pasta is not hard. It’s probably the more basic level of cooking for yourself. That said, it is a hassle to boil the pasta, drain it and then put it back in the pot to add the sauce. With this creamy meat sauce one pot pasta you get a balanced and filling meal without the hassle of draining your pasta.

One of the goals of my twenties is to amass a library of easy, delicious, comforting and relatively healthy meals that I can throw together in just 20 or 30 minutes. I want to create recipes that other families and my own will love to make over and over again. I am confident that this creamy meat sauce one pot pasta will be high on that list of recipes.

Close up above view of a bowl of creamy meat sauce pasta

What kitchen tools will I need to make this Creamy Meat Sauce One Pot Pasta?

One thing that is crucial for making this creamy meat sauce one pot pasta is choosing the correct pot. You will want a large pot and one that has a thick bottom. I loved using my dutch oven to make this dish. I enjoyed it so much that it has inspired me to make even more dutch oven recipes – prior to this I was just using it for bread.

Other than using a large, thick bottom pot, you really don’t need any special kitchen equipment to make this easy and delicious weeknight dinner. All you need to do is measure out your ingredients, throw them in the pot and get to cooking. In less than 30 minutes you will have a delicious and satisfying meal.

If you are worried that you need a green veggie with every meal, I hear you and I’ve been there. First of all, maybe try a veggie free meal one day! You’ll be happy to see that you live through. If you absolutely need some veggies in your one pot pasta, try throwing a few handfuls of spinach in at the end so it will wilt in the heat.

 

Three quarter view of meat sauce pasta in a pot

What ingredients will I need to make this comforting meat sauce pasta recipe?

You only need a few basic ingredients to make this creamy meat sauce one pot pasta, but there are some things that you should know when selecting the ingredients. I have only tested this recipe with wheat pasta. If you want to make it with a gluten free alternative, please know that I have not tested that and the final result may not be the same.

You will also need ground beef for this recipe. I have been getting mine from Butcher Box who delivers grass fed, grass finished ground beef and other meats and poultry to your front door. If you want to order from Butcher Box now, you can take advantage of their promo of ground beef for life! This means you will get 2lbs of ground beef in every single box for life!

This simple recipe is made even easier by using jarred marinara sauce – sorry to my Italian grandma! When I am searching for a good marinara sauce I look for one with simple ingredients and no added sugar. One like this is a good choice!

Side view of creamy meat sauce one pot pasta in a serving dish with parmesan cheese on top

How to make creamy meat sauce one pot pasta!

It is really so easy to make this creamy meat sauce one pot pasta. Start by heating oil in your pot or dutch oven. When the oil is hot add the ground beef to the pot with salt and pepper. Brown the meat and break into small crumbles.

Once the beef is browned add water, marinara and pasta to the pot. Stir thoroughly and increase heat to high. Bring to a boil, stir and reduce to a simmer. Allow pot to simmer for 14 minutes stirring frequently.

After 14 minutes, taste the pasta to be sure its almost full cooked. Turn off the heat and stir in 2oz of plain goat cheese. Sir pasta until the goat cheese is fully melted in.

This creamy meat sauce one pot pasta is best if enjoyed immediately, but you can also make it and store it in some airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. To get the full recipe please scroll down below.

If you make this recipe please let me know on Instagram or in the comments section!!

Looking for another ground beef pasta recipe? Try these stuffed shells with meat, this ground beef stroganoff or this veggie packed meat suace!

Image for pinning Creamy Meat Sauce One Pot Pasta Recipe on pinterest

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!

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Recipe

Creamy Meat Sauce One Pot Pasta

5 from 40 votes
A cozy and satisfying meat sauce one pot pasta that you can make with simple ingredients!
Recipe By: Madeline Tague
Prep: 2 minutes minutes
Cook: 23 minutes minutes
Print Review Pin It SaveSaved!
Servings: 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 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
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Instructions

  • Heat avocado oil over medium heat in a large, heavy bottom pan like a dutch oven
  • Once the oil is hot add the ground beef, salt and pepper to the pot
  • 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

Nutrition Information

Serving: 6g, Calories: 479kcal (24%), Carbohydrates: 61g (20%), Protein: 28g (56%), Fat: 13g (20%), Saturated Fat: 5g (31%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 6g, Trans Fat: 0.5g, Cholesterol: 53mg (18%), Sodium: 872mg (38%), Potassium: 659mg (19%), Fiber: 4g (17%), Sugar: 5g (6%), Vitamin A: 452IU (9%), Vitamin C: 6mg (7%), Calcium: 55mg (6%), Iron: 4mg (22%)

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.

Did you make my Creamy Meat Sauce One Pot Pasta?

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Madeline Tague

Hi, I’m Madeline! I am so excited to share my healthy and approachable recipes with you. Here you will find simple, comforting recipes that the whole family will enjoy. Turn on your favorite playlist or podcast and let’s get cooking!
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5 from 40 votes

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Recipe Rating




84 responses

  1. Lauren
    February 17, 2021

    5 stars
    Made this exactly the same but with beyond meat and it turned out delicious. This is a great way to use up a jar of sauce! Also, I used shells and they were perfect for picking up all the “meat” and sauce.

    Reply
    1. Madeline
      February 17, 2021

      yay!! thank you!

      Reply
  2. Mary Katherine
    February 17, 2021

    5 stars
    Made this with Italian sausage and it was so yummy and easy! Loved this simple recipe.

    Reply
    1. Madeline
      February 17, 2021

      yay!! thank you!!

      Reply
  3. Danielle
    February 16, 2021

    5 stars
    So easy to make for a weekday dinner, with plenty leftover for lunch the next day. The added goat cheese makes it feel like I made something fancy, but it was all so simple to assemble.

    Reply
    1. Madeline
      February 17, 2021

      wonderful!! thank you!!

      Reply
  4. Leigh-Anne
    January 15, 2021

    5 stars
    I made this tonight and it’s so good!!! I had gluten free pasta, ground turkey, and vodka sauce on hand. It’s my new favorite dinner!!!

    Reply
  5. Kaelin
    January 13, 2021

    5 stars
    So delicious! I loveeeee spaghetti/pasta bake dishes. This recipe is definitely one I’ll be making frequently. Super good as leftovers for lunch too!

    Reply
    1. Madeline
      January 14, 2021

      amazing!!! Thank you!

      Reply
  6. Amanda
    January 7, 2021

    5 stars
    Made this tonight and we ate every last bite! Perfect as written. I added some chopped asparagus in for the final 4 minutes of cooking and it was absolutely delicious!

    Reply
    1. Madeline
      January 8, 2021

      amazing!! Love adding veggies in at the end!!

      Reply
  7. MichelleK
    December 14, 2020

    5 stars
    I love a one pot pasta dish and this one is just so tasty and fulfilling. Seriously one of my faves of yours.

    Reply
    1. Madeline
      December 16, 2020

      thank you!!

      Reply
      1. Jessi
        January 25, 2021

        5 stars
        Great recipe! It’s so quick and easy to make. Perfect for a nice simple dinner after work. Love the creaminess from the goat cheese! Will definitely make again.

        Reply
        1. Madeline
          January 26, 2021

          wonderful!! thank you!!

          Reply
  8. Allison
    December 2, 2020

    5 stars
    Just made this tonight and we LOVED it. It’s so tangy, and so easy to put together!

    Reply
    1. Madeline
      December 4, 2020

      oh yay!! Thank you!!

      Reply
  9. Claire
    November 21, 2020

    So good! I used gluten-free pasta (which is in 12 oz packages as opposed to 16 oz) and followed all of the instructions but just added one less cup of water and it turned out perfectly! I also subbed parmesan for goat cheese because I have a picky husband 🙂 – we both loved it!

    I added sauteed zucchini to my bowl (again, picky husband) which was a great addition.

    Reply
    1. Madeline
      November 25, 2020

      amazing!! love when I can please a picky eater!! Love the additions

      Reply
  10. Monica M
    September 20, 2020

    5 stars
    Very easy and delicious!
    I adapted this slightly to use cheese tortellini I had, so good! I used ground Italian sausage because I had it on hand, but I imagine any meat would go well. Definitely something I will make again!

    Reply
    1. Madeline
      September 21, 2020

      Awesome!! Thank you!

      Reply
  11. Colleen M
    September 14, 2020

    5 stars
    This pasta dish literally takes under 20 minutes to make and can feed SO many people. I don’t cook often but I make this dish every single week because my husband and I crave it. So delicious and so easy!

    Reply
    1. Madeline
      September 15, 2020

      Thank you!! Its such a good recipe to have in the regular rotation!

      Reply
  12. Courtney Paige
    August 2, 2020

    5 stars
    This dish is fabulous. I subbed the beef for ground chicken (flavored bruschetta), added in lots of spinach, and instead of goat cheese used feta cheese (just what I had on hand). Packed with flavor and one pot clean up – couldn’t be easier.

    Reply
    1. Madeline
      August 3, 2020

      Your combo sounded and looked SO good. THank you for sharing!!

      Reply
  13. Lauren Hardin
    July 26, 2020

    5 stars
    YUM!! Seriously so good. I made this with spinach rotini (from the bulk section at sprouts), subbed ground turkey for the beef and threw in a couple handfuls of Power greens at the end with the goat cheese. So yummy, like a grown up Mac and cheese. Will for sure be making this again!

    Reply
    1. Madeline
      July 27, 2020

      Oh WOW love the upgrades. sounds incredible!! Thank you for sharing!

      Reply
  14. Bonnie
    July 26, 2020

    5 stars
    this dish is delicious and super easy! I love the addition of goat cheese, it add a creamy but tart flavor. I made a big batch of the sauce without the pasta so I could make it into 2 meals, looking forward to eating this dish twice!

    Reply
    1. Madeline
      July 26, 2020

      I am so glad! I agree I love the flavor the goat cheese adds. Thank you for sharing!

      Reply
  15. Danielle
    January 17, 2020

    I made this last night for the first time and it was AMAZZZING. The perfect meal for a cold snowy Pittsburgh night.

    Reply
    1. Madeline
      January 17, 2020

      Yes!!! Such a good winter comfort food. So glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply
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Hi, I’m Madeline – food blogger and recipe developer based just outside Philadelphia. Join me for simple, comforting recipes designed for the whole family. Turn on your favorite playlist or podcast, and let’s get to cooking!

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