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quick dinner ideas for family

Cheesy Beef Pasta

Rich meaty tomato sauce with golden melted cheese coating every piece of pasta. The quick dinner idea for family that gets requested more than anything else in my house. Ready in 20 minutes and feeds everyone properly.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Italian American
Calories: 580
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 400 g pasta rigatoni or penne
  • 400 g ground beef
  • 1 can crushed tomatoes 400g
  • 1 medium onion diced
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella
  • Half cup pasta water reserved
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • Salt and pepper generously
  • Fresh basil to serve
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

Method
 

  1. Step 1: Cook pasta in heavily salted water per package instructions reserve half cup water before draining
  2. Step 2: While pasta cooks heat olive oil in large pan over medium high heat
  3. Step 3: Add onion cook 3 minutes until soft and translucent
  4. Step 4: Add garlic cook 1 minute until fragrant
  5. Step 5: Add ground beef break apart cook 5 minutes until fully browned
  6. Step 6: Add crushed tomatoes Worcestershire sauce Italian seasoning salt and pepper stir well
  7. Step 7: Simmer 5 minutes adding splashes of pasta water to loosen sauce
  8. Step 8: Add drained pasta directly to sauce toss everything together
  9. Step 9: Top with mozzarella cover pan 2 minutes until cheese melts
  10. Step 10: Serve immediately topped with fresh basil

Notes

— Pasta water makes sauce silky
don't skip it
— Worcestershire sauce is the
secret — adds deep savory flavor
— Works with any pasta shape
you have in the cupboard
— Leftovers even better next day
reheat with splash of water