Cheesy Ground Beef Pasta Skillet – A Quick & Flavorful One-Pot Dinner

Looking for a dinner that’s quick, budget-friendly, and packed with flavor? This cheesy ground beef pasta skillet is one of those one-pot wonders you’ll come back to again and again. It has a rich, savory taste that’s sure to satisfy the whole family—and it’s so good you could even serve it to company.

The best part? It’s perfect for using up leftover pasta. So if you’ve ever found yourself with an extra pot of noodles sitting in the fridge, this recipe will put them to delicious use.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Quick & inexpensive – Ready in just 25 minutes with affordable, simple ingredients.
Great for leftovers – A tasty way to use up extra pasta without waste.
Family-friendly – Deep savory flavors with melty cheese that both kids and adults will love.

One-pan convenience – Less cleanup and more time to enjoy dinner.

Tips for Making It Your Own

Garlic & onion: The recipe uses a good amount of garlic for bold flavor. If you prefer a milder taste—or you’re serving younger kids—cut the garlic and onion amounts in half. But if your family loves garlic, go all in!
Cheese: Mozzarella makes this creamy and gooey, but you could swap in cheddar or provolone for a different twist.
Spice: Add red chili flakes for heat, or leave them out for a kid-friendly version.
Pasta water: If you’re using leftover pasta, just use plain water in place of reserved pasta water. It works just as well.

Recipe: Cheesy Ground Beef Pasta Skillet

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4
Calories: 627 kcal

Ingredients

2 cups cooked ziti pasta (see notes if using fresh)
1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
1 lb ground beef
½ tsp black pepper
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp crushed red chili flakes (optional)
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
2 tbsp tomato paste
1 onion, chopped
½ cup chopped fresh parsley (plus more for garnish)
Salt, to taste
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions

If cooking pasta fresh, cook according to package directions until al dente (1 minute less than stated). Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain without rinsing.
In a large skillet over high heat, warm the olive oil and brown the ground beef, breaking it up with a wooden spoon (about 2 minutes). Reduce to medium heat.
Season with salt and black pepper. Stir in garlic, onions, chili flakes, Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, parsley, and ½ cup pasta (or plain) water. Simmer until the beef is tender, about 8–10 minutes.
Toss in the cooked pasta and stir in 1 cup mozzarella. Top with remaining cheese, cover with a lid, and let melt.
Garnish with extra parsley and serve hot.

Notes

If you have leftover pasta, skip cooking fresh noodles and just add them in—it works perfectly.

Adjust garlic and onion levels to suit your family’s taste.

Nutrition (per serving)