Cheesy Ground Beef Pasta Skillet 

This hearty one-pan dish combines savory ground beef, ziti pasta, and melted mozzarella, delivering a comforting meal that's both quick and satisfying.

Ingredients

• 2 cups cooked ziti pasta (reserve ½ cup pasta water if cooking fresh)

• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

• 1 pound ground beef

• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 teaspoon crushed red chili flakes (optional)

• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

• 2 tablespoons tomato paste

• 1 medium onion, chopped

• ½ cup chopped fresh parsley (plus extra for garnish)

• Salt, to taste

• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions

1. Cook the Pasta: Prepare the ziti pasta according to package instructions, cooking 1 minute less than al dente. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water before draining.

2. Brown the Beef: In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add ground beef, breaking it apart with a spoon, and cook until browned, about 2 minutes.

3. Sauté Aromatics: Reduce heat to medium. Season beef with salt and pepper. Stir in minced garlic, chopped onion, crushed red chili flakes (if using), Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, and parsley. Cook until the onions are softened, about 5 minutes.

4. Combine Pasta and Cheese: Add the cooked pasta and ½ cup reserved pasta water to the skillet. Stir in 1 cup of shredded mozzarella until well combined.

5. Melt the Cheese: Top the pasta mixture with the remaining mozzarella. Cover the skillet with a lid and let it sit over low heat until the cheese is melted and bubbly, about 5 minutes.

6. Serve: Garnish with additional chopped parsley before serving.

Nutritional Information (per serving)

• Calories: 627 kcal

• Carbohydrates: 30 g

• Protein: 37 g

• Fat: 39 g

• Saturated Fat: 17 g

• Cholesterol: 125 mg

• Sodium: 548 mg

• Potassium: 631 mg

• Fiber: 2 g

• Sugar: 4 g

• Vitamin A: 1281 IU

• Vitamin C: 15 mg

• Calcium: 338 mg

• Iron: 4 mg