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Creamy Tuscan Ground Beef Pasta

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A quick and easy 30-minute creamy Tuscan ground beef pasta with a rich sauce featuring garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, and fresh spinach. Perfect for busy weeknights, this one-pan dish delivers comforting Italian flavors without the fuss.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound lean ground beef (85/15)
  • 8 ounces penne or rigatoni pasta
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped (packed in oil)
  • 3 cups fresh spinach (about 90 grams)
  • 1 cup heavy cream (240 ml)
  • ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese (about 75 grams)
  • 1 cup chicken broth (240 ml), homemade or low-sodium
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (basil, oregano, thyme blend)
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 8 ounces of penne pasta and cook according to package instructions (about 10-12 minutes) until al dente. Drain and set aside, reserving about ½ cup of pasta water.
  2. While the pasta cooks, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 pound of lean ground beef. Break it apart and cook until browned and no longer pink, about 6-8 minutes. Season with salt, pepper, and 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning. Drain excess fat if necessary.
  3. Push the beef to one side of the pan. Add minced garlic and chopped sun-dried tomatoes to the empty side, cooking for 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Stir everything together.
  4. Pour in 1 cup of chicken broth, scraping the browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Let it simmer for 3-4 minutes to reduce slightly.
  5. Lower heat to medium-low. Add 1 cup heavy cream and ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese. Stir gently until cheese melts and sauce thickens, about 3-5 minutes. Add reserved pasta water if sauce is too thick.
  6. Add 3 cups fresh spinach to the sauce. Stir gently until spinach wilts, about 2 minutes.
  7. Add cooked pasta to the skillet. Toss to coat pasta fully in the creamy sauce. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Cook together for 1-2 minutes to marry flavors.
  8. Serve hot, optionally topped with extra Parmesan or red pepper flakes.

Notes

Do not overcook pasta; it will finish cooking in the sauce. Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency. Wilt spinach last to maintain vibrant color and texture. Use fresh minced garlic for best flavor. Brown beef well for caramelized taste. Stir gently to avoid breaking beef chunks. For gluten-free, use rice or chickpea pasta and gluten-free broth. For dairy-free, substitute heavy cream with coconut or cashew cream and Parmesan with nutritional yeast.

Nutrition

Keywords: Tuscan pasta, creamy pasta, ground beef pasta, quick dinner, easy weeknight meal, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach pasta, one-pan pasta

Find it online: https://bakebelle.com/creamy-tuscan-ground-beef-pasta-recipe-30-minute-easy-dinner-delight/