25 Of The Best Ground Beef Pasta Recipes To Try Tonight

When you think of ground beef and pasta dishes, many people think of lasagna and pasta bakes. However, there are so many more dishes that combine ground beef with pasta in different ways.

From a flavorful soup to a Spaghetti Pie or a Baked Ziti. If you do want to combine the two ingredients, make sure you have plenty of cheese too.

In this guide, we will detail 25 of the best ground beef pasta recipes to try with a bonus section for hamburger-based dishes.

1. Easy Creamy Ground Beef Pasta

For a dish that has all the hallmarks and deep flavors of being prepared in a slow cooker, Easy Creamy Ground Beef Pasta may only take half an hour.

Cook the pasta until al dente then cook off the onion, ground beef, and garlic until the beef has browned.

Stir in tomato paste, canned tomatoes, Italian seasoning, and Dijon mustard, simmer until reduced then blend in that cream. Make sure that all of the pasta is covered and that’s it. 

2. Italian Pasta Bake

Just like many pasta bake recipes, you can expect spaghetti sauce, diced tomatoes, and pasta shells. However, this recipe also throws in both Provolone and Mozzarella cheese with slices of plum tomatoes. 

3. Penne Pasta Bake

For a simple pasta bake, cook Penne pasta until al dente then add to browned ground beef, onion, spaghetti sauce (there is a recipe for that too below), and sour cream.

You will need to do some layering by transferring half of the mixture to a baking dish then cover it with Provolone and Mozzarella slices then repeat and top it all off with sprinkles of Parmesan. Bake until the cheese is bubbly.

4. Slow Cooker Cheesy White Lasagna

With a slow cooker, you can simply leave this Cheesy White Lasagna to cook for a few hours.

This is an indulgent recipe that uses Gouda cheese, white Cheddar cheese, cream cheese, Mozzarella cheese, cottage cheese, as well as half-and-half cream. Oh, and white wine.

5. Easy Beef Stuffed Shells

With around 20 jumbo pasta shells, this dish is surprisingly easy and reassuringly filling. A combination of browned beef, egg, pesto, Parmesan cheese, Italian cheese blend, and ricotta cheese forms the filling.

More of the beef is also combined with spaghetti sauce so it may be reminiscent of a bolognese. 

6. One-Pot Spinach Beef Soup

You only need a single stockpot to create this formidable soup. Though a lot of the ingredients will be familiar, including ground beef, beef broth, and garlic, there are plenty of healthy, nutritious ingredients.

These include cans of diced tomatoes with onion, celery, and green pepper as well as fresh spinach. 

7. Baked Ziti

A classic American-Italian comfort food, you should be tempted to create some Baked Ziti.

This one uses Ziti pasta with tomato sauce, Italian sausage (though you can use ground pork or ground beef), and red pepper flakes.

The Italian touches come from Italian seasoning, marinara pasta sauce, ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, and Mozzarella cheese.

8. Beef And Noodles

This Beef and Noodles dish is as easy as they come though mix it up with spaghetti instead of egg noodles.

The Italian seasoning remains, and the ground beef is still cooked with onion before garlic and Worcestershire sauce is added. Flour is also used to bulk it out. 

9. Chili Mac Casserole

For a filling family-friendly dish, create this Chili Mac Casserole.

This is another recipe that will involve cooking off the ground beef, onion, and garlic then stirring in typical chili ingredients such as tomatoes, kidney beans, tomato paste, green chilies, salt, chili powder, ground cumin, pepper, and cooked macaroni.

Transfer the mixture to a covered baking dish then cook until bubbly, uncover, sprinkle with cheese, and cook until the cheese has melted.

10. Hoosier Chili

There is little that separates a Hoosier Chili from a standard chili. You still have a couple of pounds of ground beef, chopped onions, chili powder, stewed tomatoes, beef broth, and kidney beans.

However, this recipe uses uncooked elbow macaroni which soaks up those delicious juices. You end up with a filling and really easy ground beef pasta dish. 

11. Cheesy Sloppy Joe Macaroni Casserole

For a hearty meal that may only take 45 minutes to create, try this Cheesy Sloppy Joe Macaroni Casserole.

As well as cooked onion, garlic, and browned beef, diced red bell pepper is added too with garlic.

Separately, the sauce is created in a large bowl with tomato sauce, tomato paste, chili powder, beef broth, cumin, red wine vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and brown sugar.

The beef and the sauce are combined then baked with cooked macaroni and sprinkled with shredded Cheddar cheese.

12. Ground Beef Lo Mein

Yet again for this recipe, you could easily substitute lo mein noodles for spaghetti. This is a typical Asian dish that will use dark soy sauce with the ground beef.

A lot of the flavor does come from the meat but also the sauce of oyster sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, brown sugar, garlic powder, and pepper.

13. Spaghetti Sauce

Of course, Spaghetti Sauce needs to be cooked low and slow so you may want to give this recipe between eight and ten hours.

You will also need to cook ground beef with good-quality Italian sausage, garlic, and finely chopped onions.

Transfer the mixture to a slow cooker and stir in diced tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, water, Worcestershire sauce, canola oil, fresh or dried basil and oregano with rubbed sage, and dried marjoram.

Once cooked, remove the bay leaves and serve over freshly cooked spaghetti.

14. Spaghetti Pie

Yes, you can create a pie from ground beef and spaghetti. This recipe also includes grated Parmesan cheese and shredded Mozzarella cheese with Ricotta cheese and marinara sauce.

The pie is effectively baked in a prepared pan, allowed to rest after baking, then cut and served.

15. Beef Noodle Soup

If you do not like rich pasta sauces, then you can create your own Beef Noodle Soup and this is a one-pot dish.

In a Dutch oven, cook off the ground beef with chopped onion then drain before adding beef broth, Italian stewed tomatoes, mixed vegetables, salt, and pepper.

Bring the mixture to a boil then add medium egg noodles (though you could use spaghetti), cover, and serve just when the noodles are tender.

16. Meatball Soup

With kidney beans and stewed tomatoes in the list of ingredients, this Meatball Soup sounds suspiciously like a chili.

However, it is strictly Italian and involves making meatballs from beef, breadcrumbs, parsley, Parmesan cheese, garlic salt, pepper, and an egg.

The meatballs are then browned before being surrounded by a soup of beef broth, kidney beans, stewed tomatoes, thinly sliced carrots, and Italian seasoning.

Tiny shell pasta is added to cook in the soup before some more grated Parmesan cheese is sprinkled on top.

17. Beef And Macaroni Soup

You may know this soup as ‘Cowboy Soup’ as it can be cooked easily in one pot and creates a filling dish.

Beef broth is added to browned beef and onion with diced tomatoes, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, oregano, and dried basil.

Finally, macaroni noodles are added with a mix of frozen vegetables and the dish is served once the noodles are tender.

18. Ravioli Soup

Granted, you may not be getting a full portion of vegetables in this soup yet you will be getting crushed tomatoes and cheese ravioli.

The recipe is also easy to prepare in a Dutch oven as you cook off ground beef with tomatoes, tomato paste, onions, garlic, parsley, sugar, basil, oregano, onion salt, thyme, water, salt, and pepper.

Simply cook the ravioli as you would normally then add to mix, heat through, and stir in grated Parmesan cheese. 

19. Meaty One-Pot Penne Al A Vodka

Yet again, you will need to sauté onion and then brown ground beef with salt and pepper. Then it gets interesting as chili flakes, crushed tomatoes, and vodka are added and the mixture is cooked until it reduces by about half.

The cream is then added with cooked pasta so it is thoroughly cooked by the delicious sauce. Sprinkle over some Parmesan cheese and serve.

20. Italian Hot Dish

This may sound like a generic Italian dish yet combines bow tie pasta, mushrooms, ground beef, and tomato sauce really well. Not just one variety of cheese but two are sprinkled on top too.

The Mozzarella cheese brings a gooey texture while Parmesan cheese brings a welcome sharpness.

21. Spicy Goulash

Another easy-to-prepare dish is this slow-cooked Spicy Goulash. Make sure that the ground beef is browned off and drained first before adding it to the slow cooker.

Throw in Mexican diced tomatoes, kidney beans, water, chopped green pepper, and onion with red wine vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, beef bouillon granules, basil, parsley, cumin, and pepper.

Cook it all on low for between five and six hours then stir in elbow macaroni. 

22. Mexican Manicotti

This dish is typically prepared as an entrée in Mexico and you can serve it as a potluck dish considering it can be refrigerated overnight. You can use a large bowl to combine the uncooked ground beef with refried beans, chili powder, and oregano.

Spoon the mixture into uncooked manicotti shells in a greased baking dish and then pour over a mix of water and Picante sauce.

Once ready to serve, remove from the refrigerator and bake for an hour while covered, then uncover, spoon on cheese, sour cream, onions, and olives then bake until the cheese has melted. 

23. One-Pot Cheesy Mushroom Spinach Beef Pasta

With milk, Parmesan cheese, and Mozzarella cheese, this is an exceptionally creamy and cheesy dish. Then there is the combination of Bella mushrooms with a bag of spinach for a nutritious touch.

The wide egg noodles really bulk it out too (though spaghetti is an easy alternative) so you could use this as a batch meal to save it for a few days and let the flavors develop.

24. Pizza Casserole

Thankfully, like pizza, Pizza Casserole is a relatively versatile dish so you can try to incorporate your favorite toppings. Maybe some vegetables or anchovies with your favorite cured meats.

The browned ground beef and pork sausage are then combined with bell pepper, onion, oregano, garlic, mushrooms, olives, pepperoni, and Parmesan cheese. Finally, Penne pasta is added with a jar of marinara pasta sauce and then baked. 

25. Pizza Noodle Bake

Whether you decide to use egg noodles or Italian pasta, you should still recognize the pizza taste in this dish.

That largely comes from pizza sauce but also some toppings you would expect like mushrooms, green pepper, Cheddar cheese, and Mozzarella cheese.

Bonus Section: Hamburger-Based Pasta

You can also create ground beef pasta recipes that mirror the taste of a delicious hamburger.

Hamburger Helper

Hamburger Helper is a great, comforting dish that is a one-pot meal and an American classic. A real hamburger taste comes from lean ground beef, onion, and garlic with cornstarch to thicken it up.

Loads of flavor comes from chili powder, paprika, sea salt, tomato sauce, beef broth, and oregano. Then there is sour cream to bring it all together, pasta to bulk it up, and shredded Cheddar cheese to top it all off.

Hamburger Stroganoff

Stroganoff with hamburgers may sound like an odd combination yet it does work.

Brown off ground beef then add garlic salt and onion before stirring in flour, then beef broth, condensed cream of mushroom soup, and mushrooms.

Allow to thicken up and then fold in sour cream before warming up and serving over rice or noodles with a side salad.

Skillet Cheeseburger Mac And Cheese

Mac and Cheese with Cheeseburgers? No, not as a side dish but in the one recipe and the one skillet.

Alongside regular burger components, tomato sauce, milk, sugar, and, crucially, macaroni and shredded Cheddar cheese are added too. You can even add some more cheese and some minced parsley before serving warm.

Are there any Asian-inspired ground beef recipes in the 28 Best Asian Ground Beef Recipes To Try Once?

The 28 Best Asian Ground Beef Recipes To Try Once is a fantastic compilation of delicious dishes. If you’re searching for an Asian-inspired ground beef recipe, look no further. This collection is packed with incredible options that will satisfy your cravings. Explore the best asian beef recipes to try and unlock a world of flavorful possibilities for your next meal.

Final Thoughts

Ground beef and pasta are one of those combinations that just works. Try to think of them as merely two ingredients as they offer plenty of versatility.

That means adding it to a Mac and Cheese or creating a Pizza Casserole alongside a range of ingredients to add different flavors.

The combination of ground beef and pasta should not be isolated to Italian food either as it can be applied to Asian cuisine and even American and South American cuisine.

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