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This simple ground beef pasta recipe is about as easy and delicious as you can get. It’s made with just 5 INGREDIENTS + basic seasonings you probably already have on hand. Super easy to throw together for a fast and hearty meal!
This simple pasta recipe is a favorite in our household because it’s just so tasty and satisfying. AND it gives us great leftovers (the same goes for recipes like my Pot Roast with Sweet Potatoes and Green Chile Chicken Enchilada Casserole).
You can easily customize this ground beef pasta recipe with different pasta shapes, ground meats, veggies, and herbs to switch things up and satisfy your pasta cravings!
Tips
- CUSTOMIZE! – choose…
- your favorite pasta shape (bowtie, corkscrew, macaroni, spaghetti, etc.)
- your ground meat of choice (ground beef, ground turkey, ground venison, etc.)
- your favorite jarred pasta sauce (marina, tomato basil, vodka sauce, etc.)
- your veggie of choice (zucchini, mushrooms, tomatoes, spinach, etc.)
- herbs of choice (oregano, basil, rosemary, thyme, etc.)
- DON’T cook pasta beyond “al dente” – overcooking your pasta will cause the leftovers to become mushy in the refrigerator. Look at the package of pasta to find the proper cook time listed for that particular pasta shape.
- Enjoy COLD! – As much as I love a bowl of this simple ground beef pasta right off the stove…I think I may even like it better cold straight from the refrigerator the next day! 🙂 I always drizzle it with a little more olive oil, a sprinkle of sea salt, and freshly cracked black pepper. MMM!
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs. ground beef
- 16 oz uncooked pasta ( I like fusilli…corkscrew pasta)
- 24 oz. jar of marinara sauce of choice
- I like marinara or tomato basil
- 2 zucchini, halved lengthwise and sliced
- you can also use yellow zucchini squash
- 1 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp. sea salt or to taste
- 1/8 tsp. white pepper or 1/4 tsp. black pepper
- 1/4 tsp. onion powder
- 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
- 1 tsp. oregano
How to Make This Simple Ground Beef Pasta Recipe
You’ll need a medium/large pot and a skillet to make this recipe. Start by getting 8 cups of water boiling in the pot. Add a couple of hefty pinches of salt to that water…it makes the pasta more flavorful!
Whenever your water in the pot starts to boil, add in your pasta, and cook according to the package instructions for “al-dente”.
While your pasta water is heating up, get your skillet going with a hearty drizzle of olive oil. Add in the ground beef, and start to brown, breaking it up into chunks as it cooks.
When the ground beef is 3/4 cooked, add in the chopped zucchini. Stir together and season with sea salt, white pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and oregano.
Once the ground beef is fully cooked and the zucchini is starting to soften, add in your jar of pasta sauce, and stir everything together. Simmer for a few minutes to allow for the flavors to come together.
When your pasta is finished cooking, strain it out from the water (check out this cool straining ladle or pot strainer…makes draining pasta super easy!), and add the pasta into your skillet with the meat/zucchini mixture. Stir everything together well, and taste once more to see if you want more seasoning.
Then serve! Top with cheese if you like or fresh herbs.
Enjoy this hearty, comforting pasta dish. Oh, and having the leftovers as a cold pasta the next day is so good!
Want More Easy and Delicious Recipes?
- Simple Lemon Chicken Pasta
- Green Chile Chicken Enchilada Casserole
- Chicken Broccoli Rice Bowl (Broth Based)
- Savory Ground Beef and Kale with Roasted Butternut Squash
- Crispy Chicken Thighs with Sourdough Stuffing
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Hey! I’m so glad you’re here. Leave a comment below if you try this recipe and love it!
Wherever you find yourself today…take time to nourish yourself! — body, mind, and soul <3
Warmly, Caroline
Simple Ground Beef Pasta Recipe (Customizable!)
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs. ground beef
- 16 oz. uncooked pasta of choice I like corkscrew or bowtie
- 2 zucchini halved, and sliced
- 1 24 oz. jar marinara sauce/pasta sauce
- hearty drizzle extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp. sea salt
- 1/8 tsp. white pepper
- 1/4 tsp. onion powder
- 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
- 1 tsp. dried oregano
Instructions
- Bring 8 cups of water to a boil in a medium/large pot. Add a few pinches of salt. When the water is boiling, add in the pasta and cook according to package instructions to achieve "al dente" pasta. Once cooked to al dente, strain the pasta from the water, and set aside.
- While the pasta is cooking, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add in a hearty drizzle of olive oil. Cook your ground beef until 3/4 of the way cooked. Add in the sliced zucchini and seasonings. Stir and cook until the beef is completely cooked and the zucchini is tender.
- Add the sauce to the beef/zucchini mixture. Stir. Simmer for a few minutes to incorporate everything. Then turn off the heat.
- Add in the cooked, strained pasta to the beef mixture and mix everything together.
- Taste once more to see if you want more seasonings. Then serve and enjoy! Top with cheese if you like.
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