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Easy Cheesy Ground Beef Skillet Dinner: Best One-Pan Meal

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A quick and easy one-pan meal featuring savory ground beef, tender pasta, and a mountain of melted cheese. Perfect for busy weeknights, this comforting dish comes together in under 30 minutes with simple pantry ingredients.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb (450g) ground beef (80/20)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 ½ cups (150g) elbow macaroni, uncooked
  • 2 cups (480ml) beef broth
  • 1 can (14.5 oz / 400g) diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 ½ cups (170g) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • ½ cup (55g) shredded low-moisture mozzarella cheese
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Optional: fresh parsley or chives for garnish, red pepper flakes for heat

Instructions

  1. Brown the Beef: Place a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it apart, until no longer pink and nicely browned. Drain excess grease, leaving about 1 tablespoon in the pan.
  2. Sauté Aromatics: Reduce heat to medium. Add diced onion and cook 2-3 minutes until translucent. Add minced garlic and cook 30 seconds, stirring constantly.
  3. Bloom Spices: Sprinkle smoked paprika, oregano, garlic powder, and onion powder over the beef. Stir and cook 1 minute. Add tomato paste and cook 1 more minute until darkened.
  4. Add Liquids and Pasta: Pour in beef broth and undrained diced tomatoes. Stir, scraping up browned bits. Add uncooked macaroni and stir. Bring to a boil.
  5. Simmer Pasta: Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is al dente. If too dry, add a splash of water or broth; if too soupy, uncover for last few minutes.
  6. Melt Cheese: Remove from heat. Sprinkle cheddar and mozzarella evenly over top. Let sit 1 minute, then gently stir until melted and creamy.
  7. Rest and Serve: Let sit 5 minutes to thicken. Garnish with parsley or chives and red pepper flakes if desired. Serve hot.

Notes

For best results, grate your own cheese to avoid anti-caking agents. Don’t skip browning the beef for maximum flavor. If sauce is too thick after adding cheese, stir in a splash of warm milk or broth. Leftovers keep in the fridge for up to 4 days and freeze well for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: ground beef skillet, one-pan meal, cheesy pasta, easy weeknight dinner, comfort food, quick dinner

Find it online: https://lenatable.com/easy-cheesy-ground-beef-skillet-dinner-best-one-pan-meal/