Cheesy Ground Beef Pasta

Cheesy Ground Beef Pasta is easy to make and always a hit with the family!

Busy days and chilly nights call for hot and hearty main dishes like this deliciously cheesy pasta dish. Five ingredients and one pot make this recipe a time-saving family favorite. Double up on this easy, cheesy ground beef pasta dish and take it to a party or potluck!

 

Cheesy Ground Beef Pasta

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Cheesy Beef Pasta

• Kids absolutely love this recipe! Have the gang over for movie night and serve cheesy beef pasta with some Grilled Cheese Roll-Ups for dipping or some fun Bacon Cream Cheese Biscuits. Don’t forget the Monster Magic Cookie Bars for dessert!
• Prepare on the stovetop, in the Instant Pot, or as a casserole in the oven! Cheesy ground beef pasta comes out rich and creamy every time!
• No need to pre-cook the pasta, either. It cooks as it simmers in the Rotel tomato cheese sauce.  
• Don’t forget to add a crunchy Tomato Salad along with some of The BEST Cheesy Bread EVER.

Beef Pasta Ingredients

GROUND BEEF – Ground beef makes this a hearty dish, but a combination of ground beef and pork sausage or turkey adds extra flavor. Sprinkle bacon bits on top as a garnish.

SAUCE – This quick and easy cheesy sauce has so many more applications. Broth helps thin out the condensed cheese soup for the pasta to cook in and for a super creamy sauce, stir in some heavy cream. Make it spicy by adding a few tablespoons of chili sauce or a couple dashes of Tabasco!

PASTA – This is the fun part! Use any kind of pasta that’s available. Elbow macaroni, shells, penne, even bowtie pasta gives the dish a new look every time.

ADD-INS – Sliced mushrooms, healthy fresh vegetables, sliced black olives, even a bag of frozen mixed veggies, add more flavor and texture to the dish. It’s a great recipe for using up leftovers, too.

How to Make Pasta with Ground Beef

This one pot meal is perfect to make on busy weeknights, and it’s ready in minutes:

1. Cook ground beef, drain.
2. Stir in the remaining ingredients (as per the recipe below) to a large pot.
3. Boil, then simmer until the pasta is al dente. Serve immediately.

Instant Pot

1. Set Instant Pot to sauté and cook ground beef. Drain.
2. Stir in remaining ingredients, (found in the recipe below).
3. Seal, and cook on high for 5 minutes, then quick release the steam. Serve immediately.

As a Casserole

1. Cook ground beef, drain.
2. Place the beef and remaining ingredients (found in the recipe below) in a casserole dish.
3. Bake until the pasta is al dente. Serve immediately.

Pro Tips & Time Savers!

• This dish is great for freezing extra batches! Once it’s cooled, scoop it into gallon-sized or individual-sized zippered bags with the date labeled on the outside for up to 4 weeks. Thaw portions in the refrigerator overnight and reheat on the stovetop.
• Make cheesy ground beef pasta extra fancy by sprinkling on cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese on top of the finished dish and placing it under the broiler until the cheese is browned and bubbly. Serve with a dollop of sour cream.

Other Beef Pasta Recipes

Here are some more time-saving recipes combining pasta and beef!

• American Goulash – fun and easy to prepare.
• Cheesy Taco Pasta – ready in just 30 minutes!
• Beef and Tomato Macaroni Soup – delicious lunch or dinner.
• Creamy Beef Mushroom Stroganoff – so creamy!

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