Name: One Pot Creamy Beef Pasta
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 Tablespoon olive oil; 1 lb 85-92% ground beef; ½ cup diced sweet onion; 2 cloves garlic (minced); 1 teaspoon dried basil; 1 teaspoon dried oregano; 1 teaspoon dried parsley; 2 teaspoons salt; ¾ teaspoon black pepper; ¼ cup all-purpose flour; 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth; 1 15-ounce can tomato sauce; 1 lb rotini pasta or another short pasta (shells, elbows); ¾ cup heavy cream; 1 ½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese

You Need These Ingredients

Ground Beef: Traditional recipes use ground beef, but you can use ground beef, ground turkey, or even ground bison of any fat %. I typically have 92%+ lean ground beef or turkey on hand so that's what I use.

Onion: You don't need much, just ½ cup diced which helps develop the flavor.

Garlic: You want 2 cloves of fresh garlic if you have it, otherwise you can substitute garlic powder.

Spices: We're using pantry staples like salt, pepper, dried oregano, dried parsley and dried basil.

Flour: Adding flour helps thicken the sauce to give it a creamier texture. Not much is needed, just 3 Tablespoons, and you don't taste it at all!

Chicken Broth: You need 4 cups of broth, it can be chicken broth, beef broth or even vegetable broth. If you don't have any or only have some, water can be used instead but you'll lose some flavor. I have more details in the recipe card below.

Tomato Sauce: Use that leftover pasta sauce sitting in the fridge, make your own or grab a jar from the store. If I use store-bought I always use Paesana (not sponsored, just really love them!)

Pasta: This recipe works well with just about any short pasta. I love to use rotini, shells or elbows as it allows the sauce to get in every nook.

Heavy Cream: You can use what you have– heavy cream, half-and-half, whole milk etc. The less fat %, the less creamy the pasta will be.

Cheese: Use your favorite cheese– we love to use cheddar. If you can, buy block cheese as it will melt easier when adding it to the pasta.

How to Make Homemade Creamy Beef Pasta

This is a one pot recipe, layering in ingredients as you go:

Grab a pot, at least a 5-quart or larger (since this is a one pot recipe) and brown the ground beef with the onion over medium heat until the beef is cooked through. Toss in the garlic and spices, give it stir and let it cook for a minute to allow the flavor to develop.

Sprinkle in the flour, stirring it into the ground beef, letting it cook for about a minute to remove the flour taste.

Stir in the tomato sauce and chicken broth and bring it up to a boil, just as you would with pasta water. Once boiling, add the pasta and cook until al dente– the time will vary depending on the type of pasta you use.

Finally, stir in the heavy cream and cheese. That's it!

FAQ: How Long Does it Take to Cook Creamy Beef Pasta?

This pasta recipe takes 30 minutes start to finish (minimal prep!)– the perfect recipe for a busy weeknight.

two white bowls of creamy beef and pasta with forks.

Variations & Substitutes for Creamy Beef Pasta Sauce

What I love most about this easy creamy beef pasta recipe is how customizable it is:

Meat: You can use any type of ground meat that you have on hand– I've made this recipe with ground beef, turkey and bison.

Heavy Cream: Using heavy cream will give you the creamiest texture, but it can easily be substituted with half-and-half, whole milk or a lower fat % milk. I've even used a dairy-free milk in a pinch.

Pasta: Most pasta with ground beef recipes will use a smaller cut of pasta for the best ratio, like beef and shells and hamburger helper (using elbows), but you can use what you have. I've made it with rotini, rigatoni, elbows, and penne.

Cheese: The cheese is forgiving allowing you to use what you have– I've made it with various types of cheddar, monterey jack, even asiago or a combination of cheeses.

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