Description
Creamy one-pot pasta brings Italian comfort to home kitchens with minimal cleanup and maximum flavor. Quick ingredients meld together, creating a luxurious meal that delights diners seeking simple yet satisfying culinary experiences.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb lean ground beef (or 12 oz if using Impossible Meat)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 8 oz elbow pasta
- 2 cups beef or vegetable broth
- 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes
- 1 (4 oz) can chopped green chilis
- 2 tbsps homemade taco seasoning or 1 (1 oz) packet taco seasoning
- 1 tsp smoked or sweet paprika
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 white onion, chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 2 tbsps fresh lime juice (about 1 lime)
- 1 tbsp hot sauce (optional)
- Salt, as needed
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- Green onions, chopped
- Sour cream
- Lime wedges
Instructions
- Sauté Aromatics: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat, then swiftly sauté onions and bell peppers until they become translucent and slightly softened.
- Brown Protein: Add ground beef, breaking it into small crumbles, and cook until the meat loses its pink coloration. For plant-based alternatives, reduce cooking time and ensure proper heating.
- Season Mixture: Sprinkle taco seasoning, paprika, and cumin over the meat, then incorporate undrained canned tomatoes and green chilis, stirring to distribute flavors evenly.
- Pasta Integration: Introduce dry pasta to the seasoned mixture, coating each piece thoroughly with the meat and vegetable blend.
- Liquid Activation: Pour beef broth into the pot, increasing heat to medium-high until the liquid reaches a rolling boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 13 to 15 minutes.
- Cheese Infusion: Remove from heat and fold in shredded cheddar cheese, stirring until it melts completely and creates a creamy consistency.
- Final Touches: Enhance the dish with chopped cilantro, fresh lime juice, and optional hot sauce. Adjust seasoning with salt to taste, then let rest for 3 to 5 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
- Serving: Plate the one-pot pasta, garnishing with sliced scallions, a dollop of sour cream, and lime wedges for a fresh, zesty finish.
Notes
- Optimize Meat Cooking: Brown ground beef thoroughly, breaking into small crumbs to maximize flavor absorption and ensure even cooking.
- Control Liquid Consistency: Monitor broth levels during simmering to prevent pasta from becoming too dry or too soupy; stir occasionally to maintain perfect texture.
- Cheese Melting Technique: Remove pot from direct heat when adding cheese to prevent scorching, creating smooth, creamy consistency without grainy texture.
- Flavor Boosting Tip: Let dish rest after cooking to allow seasonings to blend and intensify, transforming simple ingredients into a more complex, robust meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 465
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg