Delicious Homemade Ground Beef Pasta (Printable)
Hearty beef and pasta soup with vegetables, ready in 45 minutes—ideal for chilly nights.
# What You'll Need:
→ Meats
01 - 1 pound ground beef
→ Vegetables
02 - 1 medium onion, diced
03 - 2 carrots, peeled and sliced
04 - 2 celery stalks, sliced
05 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes
07 - 1 cup frozen peas
08 - 1 cup baby spinach (optional)
→ Pasta
09 - 1 cup small pasta shells or ditalini
→ Liquids
10 - 6 cups beef broth
11 - 1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
→ Spices & Seasonings
12 - 1 teaspoon dried basil
13 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
14 - 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
15 - Salt and ground black pepper, to taste
16 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
→ Cheese (optional)
17 - Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving
# Steps:
01 - In a large soup pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook until evenly browned, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Drain excess fat if necessary.
02 - Add diced onion, sliced carrots, and celery to the pot. Sauté for 4 to 5 minutes until the vegetables are slightly softened.
03 - Stir in minced garlic, dried basil, oregano, and thyme. Cook for approximately 1 minute until the mixture is fragrant.
04 - Pour in diced tomatoes with juices, tomato sauce, and beef broth. Bring contents to a gentle simmer.
05 - Stir in the pasta and maintain a simmer. Cook uncovered for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
06 - During the last 2 to 3 minutes of cooking, add frozen peas and baby spinach (if using). Cook until the pasta and vegetables are tender.
07 - Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper to taste. Ladle soup into bowls and garnish each serving with grated Parmesan cheese if desired. Serve immediately while hot.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Using just one pot means less time cleaning, more time savoring warmth with a spoon in hand.
- The blend of savory beef, tender pasta, and hearty veggies is pure comfort for chilly nights or days when you just need a hug in a bowl.
02 -
- If you add the pasta too early, it can grow mushy and steal too much broth—wait until the soup simmers properly.
- Trying spinach for the first time, I learned to toss it in last or it vanishes to nothing!
03 -
- Browning the beef deeply is worth a little patience—it completely changes the taste.
- Swirl a bit of extra olive oil in at the end for a silky mouthfeel nobody expects.