One-Pan Cheesy Beef and Tomato Pasta

Name: One-Pan Cheesy Beef and Tomato Pasta
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 tbsp olive oil; 5 medium tomatoes; 1 medium yellow onion, diced; 1 lb ground beef; 3 cloves garlic, minced; 1 tbsp tomato paste; 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped; 1 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp ground black pepper; 1 tsp dried oregano; 1 tsp paprika; 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese; 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese; 14 oz farfalle pasta, cooked; Grated Parmesan cheese, for garnish; Fresh parsley, for garnish

This one-pan cheesy beef and tomato pasta combines seasoned ground beef with fresh tomatoes, garlic, and herbs in a single skillet, then finishes with melted cheese for a satisfying weeknight meal ready in under 30 minutes.

🌍American 🏷️One-pan pasta 🏷️Ground beef 🏷️Cheesy pasta 🏷️Weeknight dinner Quick meal

🏷️

🏷️Comfort food

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TikTok

Total

25 min

Servings

4

Difficulty

Easy

Est. Cost

$29–$48

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From TikTok

-0:00

TikTok

Ingredients

2 tbsp olive oil
5 medium tomatoes
1 medium yellow onion, diced
1 lb ground beef
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp tomato paste
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp paprika
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
14 oz farfalle pasta, cooked
Grated Parmesan cheese, for garnishoptional
Fresh parsley, for garnishoptional

16 Ingredients

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Instructions

1
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the whole tomatoes, cover, and cook for a few minutes until the skins start to blister.
2
Add the diced onion to the pan and continue to cook.
3
Add the ground beef to the skillet. Use a spoon to break it apart and cook until browned.
4
Using a fork, carefully peel the skins off the softened tomatoes and discard them.
5
Crush the tomatoes directly in the pan with the back of a fork to create a chunky sauce. Stir to combine with the beef and onions.
6
Stir in the minced garlic, tomato paste, chopped parsley, salt, pepper, dried oregano, and paprika.
7
Add the shredded cheddar and mozzarella cheese to the skillet. Stir until the cheese is melted and the sauce is creamy.
8
Add the cooked farfalle pasta to the skillet and stir until the pasta is fully coated in the cheesy meat sauce.
9
Serve immediately, garnished with additional fresh parsley and grated Parmesan cheese if desired.

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Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Brown the ground beef thoroughly before adding onions—this builds flavor and prevents the meat from steaming. Break it into small pieces as it cooks.
Add pasta directly to the pan with the sauce rather than cooking separately; it absorbs the tomato-beef flavors as it cooks and saves a dish.
Stir in cheese off heat or on very low heat to prevent it from becoming stringy or separating; add parsley just before serving for brightness.
Taste and adjust seasoning after pasta is cooked—pasta water dilutes flavors, so a final salt adjustment is often needed.

Substitutions

Ground beef → ground turkey or Italian sausage (sausage adds spice; skip extra oregano if using it)
Fresh tomatoes → 28-oz can crushed tomatoes (reduce simmering time to 10-12 minutes)
Fresh parsley → fresh basil or 1 tsp dried parsley (dry parsley uses 1/3 the amount)
Yellow onion → sweet onion or shallots (shallots add deeper sweetness)

Storage & make-ahead

Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container up to 3 days. Reheat gently on stovetop with a splash of water or broth to restore sauce consistency.

Common Questions

Can I use canned tomatoes instead of fresh?

Yes. Use one 28-oz can of crushed tomatoes and reduce the simmering time to 10-12 minutes since they cook faster than fresh tomatoes.

What type of cheese works best?

Mozzarella melts smoothly and is traditional, but cheddar, provolone, or a blend also work well. Add it at the end off heat so it doesn't separate.

Can I make this ahead?

Cook through the beef and tomato stage, then refrigerate up to 2 days. Reheat gently, add fresh pasta and cheese when ready to serve.

How do I prevent the pasta from sticking?

Stir occasionally during cooking, especially in the first 5 minutes. If sauce thickens too much, add pasta water or broth to reach desired consistency.