Delicious Homemade Ground Beef Pasta (Printable)
Hearty ground beef and pasta soup with vegetables, ready in 45 minutes for cozy weeknight dinners.
# Ingredient List:
→ 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, to taste
16 - Pepper, to taste
17 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
→ Cheese
18 - Grated Parmesan, for serving (optional)
# Steps:
01 - In a large soup pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until fully browned. Drain any excess fat if necessary.
02 - Add diced onion, carrots, and celery to the beef. Sauté for 4 to 5 minutes until the vegetables begin to soften.
03 - Stir in minced garlic, dried basil, oregano, and thyme. Continue to cook for about 1 minute until the mixture is fragrant.
04 - Add the canned diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and beef broth. Stir to combine, then bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
05 - Stir in small pasta shells or ditalini. Simmer uncovered for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
06 - Add frozen peas and baby spinach, if using, during the last 2 to 3 minutes of cooking. Continue simmering until pasta and vegetables are tender.
07 - Season with salt and pepper to taste. Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with grated Parmesan if desired. Serve hot.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- You can clean out your fridge and still end up with a soup that tastes like a labor of love.
- Leftovers only get better, making tomorrow&aposs lunch nothing short of exciting.
02 -
- If you add the pasta too early, it&aposs easy to end up with mushy soup and nowhere for the broth to hide—wait until the soup is simmering steadily.
- Using a bigger pot than you think you need means less splatter and easier stirring, especially when friends suddenly invite themselves over.
03 -
- Don&apost skip browning the beef thoroughly—it adds essential flavor and body to the finished soup.
- A squeeze of lemon over each bowl right before serving brightens everything and feels like a hidden upgrade.