Saucy One-Pot Tomato & Beef Pasta (a.k.a. The One-Pot Wonder You Need in Your Life)
Let’s talk about dinner MVPs—the kind of meal that’s easy, comforting, and doesn’t leave your kitchen looking like a crime scene. Enter: this Saucy One-Pot Tomato & Beef Pasta. One pot, minimal effort, maximum flavor. Think of it as the love child of a classic Bolognese and a rich, velvety tomato cream sauce. It’s giving weeknight hero energy.
Why This Pasta Slaps
- One Pot = Fewer Dishes – Because who has time to scrub multiple pans? Not me. Not you.
- Flavor Bomb – Savory ground beef, garlicky tomato sauce, and a luscious cream finish? Say less.
- Feeds a Crowd (or Just You for a Few Days) – Meal prep? Done.
- Major Comfort Food Vibes – This is the kind of pasta that makes you want to put on sweatpants and romanticize your life.
The Secret to That Ultra-Creamy Sauce
The magic happens when the pasta cooks directly in the sauce. No separate boiling, no draining—just pure flavor absorption. The starch from the pasta thickens everything up, making the sauce extra velvety. Add in some heavy cream at the end, and boom. Chef’s kiss.
Fun Fact:
Tomato-based pasta sauces have been a thing since at least the 18th century, but Italians traditionally don’t add cream to their red sauce. But guess what? We’re rebels. And creamy tomato sauce just hits different.
This one’s perfect for when you need a dinner that feels fancy but takes zero brainpower. Ready to make it? Let’s get cooking.
Saucy One-Pot Tomato & Beef Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 tbsp avocado oil
- 2 garlic cloves finely minced
- 1 onion finely chopped
- 1 lb ground beef
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 14 oz can crushed tomatoes
- 1 tsp white sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp cooking salt/kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 4 cups chicken stock
- 12 oz fusilloni or other short pasta
- 3/4 cups heavy cream
Instructions
- Sauté the Aromatics – Heat avocado oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot over high heat. Add the minced garlic and chopped onion, cooking for about 1 ½ minutes until fragrant and softened.
- Brown the Beef & Add Seasonings – Add the ground beef to the pot, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks. Once there’s no pink left, stir in the Italian seasoning and cook for another 30 seconds. Mix in the tomato paste and let it cook for a minute to deepen the flavor.
- Add the Liquids & Pasta – Pour in the crushed tomatoes, chicken stock, salt, pepper, and sugar. Stir well, then add the pasta directly into the pot.
- Simmer to Perfection – Bring everything to a simmer and let it cook for about 15 minutes, stirring every couple of minutes. As the pasta softens, stir more frequently to prevent it from sticking to the bottom.
- Make It Creamy – Pour in the heavy cream and let it simmer for another 1-2 minutes. The sauce will still be slightly runny, which is perfect—pasta continues to absorb liquid as it sits, so it’ll be the perfect creamy consistency when served if you let it set for a few minutes.
- Serve & Enjoy – Remove from heat, give it a final stir, and dish it into bowls. Top with grated parmesan and fresh parsley for extra flavor!
