Cheesy Pasta Dish – Easy One-Pot Ground Beef Dinner

When you need a fast, family-pleasing dinner that doesn’t dirty every pan in your kitchen, this cheesy pasta dish is the answer. It’s that classic hamburger-helper-style meal we all grew up with, but made from scratch, richer, creamier, and so much more flavorful. Think tender pasta cooked right in a savory tomato-beef sauce, then finished with a generous amount of melty cheese. It’s the kind of ground beef recipe for dinner that disappears fast and makes the whole house smell like comfort.

This recipe is perfect for busy nights, picky eaters, and anyone craving an easy skillet meal. You can make it in about 30 minutes, it’s budget-friendly, and it uses pantry staples. Even better: you can tweak it to taste like goulash, sloppy joes in pasta form, or even a Tex-Mex cheesy beef pasta. Let’s make it.

Why You’ll Love This Cheesy Pasta Dish

• One pot = easy cleanup: Pasta, beef, sauce, and cheese all cook in the same skillet.
• Family-friendly: Kids love it because it’s cheesy. Adults love it because it tastes like comfort.
• Budget dinner idea: Uses ground beef and dry pasta — both affordable ingredients.
• Customizable: Turn it into a Hamburger Helper recipe, a beef goulash, or even a taco pasta.
• Great leftover meal: Reheats well for lunches and make-ahead dinners.
• No boxed mix needed: Real ingredients, real flavor.
• Perfect for “what’s for dinner?” nights: Ready in 30–35 minutes.

If you like easy comfort-style skillet dinners, don’t miss our creamy parmesan garlic beef bowtie pasta — it’s another cheesy beef weeknight winner.

Ingredients for Cheesy Pasta Dish

Here’s what you need to make this cheesy hamburger pasta:

• 1 pound ground beef (90/10 or 85/15)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil (optional, if beef is very lean)
• 1 small onion, finely diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
• 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
• 2 ½ cups beef broth (or chicken broth)
• 2 ½ cups short pasta (elbow, rotini, shells, or penne)
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional, for depth)
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• ½ teaspoon dried oregano
• ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (or cheddar/Monterey Jack blend)
• ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• Fresh parsley or green onions, for garnish

Optional add-ins:

• 1 cup frozen peas or corn
• 1 cup diced bell pepper (cook with onion)
• ½ cup cream cheese for extra creaminess

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Brown the Beef

In a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven, heat olive oil (if using) over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and no longer pink. Drain excess fat if needed.

2. Sauté Aromatics

Add diced onion to the skillet and cook for 3–4 minutes until softened. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds more, just until fragrant.

3. Build the Sauce

Pour in tomato sauce and diced tomatoes (with juices). Stir in Worcestershire sauce, Italian seasoning, paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper. Let it bubble for 1–2 minutes.

4. Add Pasta and Broth

Pour in the pasta and beef broth. Stir well to make sure all pasta is submerged. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low.

5. Simmer

Cover and let the pasta cook for 12–15 minutes, stirring occasionally so the pasta doesn’t stick. Cook until pasta is al dente and most of the liquid is absorbed. If it gets too thick before the pasta is done, add a splash more broth.

6. Make It Creamy

Once pasta is cooked, pour in the heavy cream (or half-and-half). Stir to combine. This gives you that silky hamburger-helper texture we all love.

7. Add the Cheese

8. Taste and Adjust

Taste and add more salt/pepper if needed. If you like it extra cheesy, add more cheese on top and cover for 1–2 minutes to melt.

9. Garnish and Serve

Top with chopped parsley or green onions and serve hot right from the skillet.

How to Serve This Cheesy Pasta Dish

This cheesy pasta dish is meant to be served family-style — straight from the skillet to the table. It’s hearty enough to stand on its own, but it also pairs beautifully with a few simple sides.

Serve it with:

• A crisp green salad with Italian dressing
• Garlic bread or Texas toast
• Roasted or air-fried veggies
• Steamed broccoli or green beans

If you’re feeding a crowd, you can spread the pasta into a baking dish, sprinkle extra cheese on top, and broil for 2–3 minutes for a cheesy, bubbly finish. This makes it feel like a baked beef pasta casserole, which is great for potlucks or Sunday dinner.

This recipe also works well for meal prepping. Portion it into containers and refrigerate — it reheats perfectly for lunch.

Looking for inspiration? Try our hearty and budget-friendly ground beef casserole with green beans for another easy weeknight dinner idea that uses ingredients you probably already have.

How to Store This Cheesy Pasta Dish

One of the best things about this recipe is that it makes great leftovers.

Refrigerator:

• Let the pasta cool to room temperature.
• Store in an airtight container for up to 3–4 days.
• When reheating, the pasta may have absorbed some of the sauce. Add a splash of milk, cream, or broth and stir to bring it back to life.

Freezer:
Yes, you can freeze this, especially if you slightly undercook the pasta.

• Let it cool completely.
• Place in freezer-safe containers or zip-top bags and freeze for up to 2 months.
• Thaw overnight in the fridge, then reheat on the stovetop with a little added broth or cream.
  Note: Because this is a dairy-and-pasta dish, the texture is always best fresh, but freezing still works for busy seasons.

Don’t miss our cozy, budget-friendly casserole-style comfort like the classic hobo casserole ground beef recipe — it’s another winner for make-ahead dinners.

Tips to Make This Cheesy Pasta Dish

• Use the right pasta: Short, sturdy pasta like elbows, rotini, shells, or penne holds the sauce best.
• Don’t skip the simmer: Letting the pasta cook in the sauce gives it way more flavor than boiling separately.
• Season in layers: Salt the beef, then taste again after adding broth, and finally after cheese.
• Make it creamier: Add 4 oz cream cheese with the cream for extra richness.
• Make it like Hamburger Helper: Use elbow macaroni, some paprika, and cheddar only.
• Make it kid-friendly: Skip the diced tomatoes and just use tomato sauce or even marinara.
• Make it spicy: Add red pepper flakes or a teaspoon of chili powder.
• Add veggies: Bell pepper, peas, corn, spinach, or even mushrooms can go right into the skillet.
• Want it extra cheesy? Stir cheese into the pasta, then add another layer on top and cover to melt.

If you love creamy, garlicky one-pot pastas, check out our ultra-cozy one-pot creamy garlic pasta — it’s a perfect companion to this cheesy beef version.

Variations of This Cheesy Pasta Dish

You can turn this base recipe into tons of different beef pasta recipes:

1. Cheesy Taco Pasta: Add 2 tablespoons taco seasoning, a can of black beans, and corn. Top with pepper jack and cilantro.
2. Cheeseburger Pasta: Add 2 tablespoons ketchup and 1 tablespoon mustard, and finish with pickles on top. Tastes like a burger in pasta form.
3. American Goulash Style: Use elbow macaroni, more tomato, and add celery or green bell pepper. Sprinkle with paprika.
4. Sloppy Joe Pasta: Add brown sugar, ketchup, and Worcestershire for that sweet-salty sloppy joe flavor.
5. Creamy Italian Beef Pasta: Swap cheddar for mozzarella and Parmesan, add Italian seasoning, and toss in spinach.
6. Mushroom Beef Pasta: Add sliced mushrooms with the onions to make it heartier.
7. Lighter Version: Use lean ground beef or ground turkey, half-and-half instead of cream, and reduce cheese to 1 cup.
8. Baked Version: Spread into a casserole dish, top with mozzarella, and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 15 minutes.

This is why this recipe is a keeper — one formula, many dinners.

FAQs

Q1: Can I use ground turkey instead of ground beef?
Yes, ground turkey or chicken works well. Just add a little extra Worcestershire or Italian seasoning to boost flavor.

Q2: Can I make this gluten-free?
Yes, use gluten-free pasta and make sure your broth and Worcestershire are gluten-free. You may need to add a little extra liquid since some GF pastas absorb more.

Q3: My pasta soaked up all the liquid — what do I do?
Just add more broth or even hot water, a little at a time, until it’s creamy again.

Q4: Can I make this ahead?
Yes. Make as directed, cool, and refrigerate. Reheat on the stove with more liquid and a little extra cheese.

Q5: Can I double this recipe?
Absolutely! Use a large Dutch oven and increase the broth so the pasta still cooks properly.

Final Thoughts

Keep this one in your rotation. Change the seasonings, swap the pasta, add veggies, make it Tex-Mex — it’s flexible, forgiving, and family-approved.

Follow me on Facebook and Pinterest where I share cozy, easy-to-make baking recipes just like this one.

Cheesy Pasta Dish

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• Author: Rosie
• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 6 servings 1x

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Description

This cheesy pasta dish is a homemade one-pot hamburger helper-style dinner. Ground beef, pasta, tomatoes, and plenty of melty cheese cook together to make the ultimate weeknight comfort meal.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 tbsp olive oil (optional, if beef is lean)
• 1 small onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
• 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
• 2 1/2 cups beef broth
• 2 1/2 cups short pasta (elbow, shells, rotini, or penne)
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp smoked paprika (optional)
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp salt (or to taste)
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• Fresh parsley or green onions, for garnish

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Instructions

1. In a large deep skillet or Dutch oven, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat. Drain excess fat if necessary.

2. Add diced onion and cook for 3–4 minutes until softened. Stir in minced garlic and cook 30 seconds more.

3. Add tomato sauce, diced tomatoes with their juice, Worcestershire sauce, Italian seasoning, paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine.

4. Pour in the dry pasta and beef broth. Stir so the pasta is submerged. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer 12–15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is tender.

5. When the pasta is cooked and most of the liquid is absorbed, pour in the heavy cream and stir.

6. Reduce heat to low. Add shredded cheddar a handful at a time, stirring until melted and creamy. Stir in Parmesan.

7. Taste and adjust seasoning. If too thick, add a splash of broth or milk.

8. Garnish with parsley or green onion and serve hot.

Notes

Use elbow pasta for a more classic Hamburger Helper texture.

Add 1 cup frozen peas or corn at the end for extra veggies.

To make it spicy, add red pepper flakes or a diced jalapeño with the onions.

Great with garlic bread, salad, or roasted vegetables.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Pasta, One Pot
• Method: Stovetop
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups
• Calories: 520
• Sugar: 7g
• Sodium: 780mg
• Fat: 28g
• Saturated Fat: 14g
• Unsaturated Fat: 11g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 42g
• Fiber: 3g
• Protein: 27g
• Cholesterol: 85mg