Description
Creamy Italian One-Pot Pasta blends Mediterranean charm with simple kitchen magic. Quick weeknight comfort emerges when noodles, sauce, and herbs simmer together, creating a delightful meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 pound lean ground beef (or 12 ounces if using Impossible Meat)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Main Ingredients:
- 8 ounces elbow pasta
- 2 cups beef or vegetable broth
- 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes
- 1 (4-ounce) can chopped green chilis
Seasonings and Flavoring:
- 2 tablespoons homemade taco seasoning or 1 (1-ounce) packet taco seasoning
- 1 teaspoon smoked or sweet paprika
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 white onion, chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (about 1 lime)
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce (optional)
- Salt, as needed
Garnish:
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- Green onions, chopped
- Sour cream
- Lime wedges
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat until it glistens and becomes fragrant.
- Sauté chopped onions and bell peppers until they become translucent and slightly softened, approximately 2 minutes.
- Add ground beef to the pot, breaking it into small crumbles using a wooden spoon, and cook on medium heat until the meat loses most of its pink coloration, about 3 to 5 minutes. Optional: drain excess grease if desired.
- For plant-based meat alternatives, reduce cooking time to 2 to 3 minutes, ensuring proper heating.
- Sprinkle taco seasoning, paprika, and cumin over the meat, stirring to distribute evenly. Add undrained canned tomatoes and green chilis, mixing thoroughly.
- Introduce dry pasta to the mixture, ensuring each piece is coated with the seasoned meat and vegetable blend.
- Pour beef broth into the pot, stirring to combine, and increase heat to medium-high until the liquid reaches a rolling boil, approximately 3 to 5 minutes.
- Once boiling, reduce heat to low, cover the pot with a lid, and simmer for 13 to 15 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent pasta from sticking and ensure even cooking.
- After cooking, remove the pot from heat and fold in shredded cheddar cheese, stirring until it melts completely and creates a creamy consistency.
- Enhance the flavor by adding chopped cilantro, fresh lime juice, and optional hot sauce. Adjust seasoning with salt to taste.
- Let the dish rest for 3 to 5 minutes, allowing flavors to meld and sauce to thicken. Serve garnished with optional toppings such as sliced scallions, a dollop of sour cream, and lime wedges for a fresh, zesty finish.
Notes
- Grease management is crucial when browning ground beef to control dish’s overall fat content and enhance flavor profile.
- Plant-based meat substitutes cook faster and require less time compared to traditional ground beef, ensuring quicker meal preparation.
- Selecting high-quality paprika and cumin can dramatically elevate the depth and complexity of your one-pot pasta’s seasoning blend.
- Stirring occasionally during simmering prevents pasta from sticking and ensures uniform heat distribution for perfect texture.
- Resting time after cooking allows flavors to meld together, creating a more harmonious and delicious final dish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 200 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg