This delicious ground beef rotini pasta is going to become your go-to dinner! Easy pasta dish that is loaded with ground beef, mushrooms, and cheese all combined in red sauce.
Pasta dinner is always a good idea, try our other delicious pasta dishes like our Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta or our classic Chicken Alfredo.
ROTINI PASTA RECIPE
Simple and quick rotini pasta dish that is loaded with ground beef, mushrooms, onions, and cheese! Not only does this pasta dish come together quickly it is so hearty and loaded with flavors that will be loved by everyone. The combination of flavors in this dish go together so well, it is the perfect weeknight dinner.
WHAT YOU NEED-
- Pasta– This recipe calls for rotini pasta, but you can use any other short or long pasta you prefer. Pastas such as penne, elbow, bowtie, cellentani, conchiglie, spaghetti, fettuccine, or angel hair pasta work great.
- Meat– Be sure to use good quality ground beef pasta, from 80-90% lean. We like to get 85% lean. You can also totally substitute for ground pork, sausage, chicken or turkey!
- Onion– Adding onions gives the beef additional juice and flavors! You can use either red onion, sweet onion, or cooking onion. If you don’t like onions, you can leave them out.
- Mushrooms– White button mushrooms or portobello mushrooms work great for this recipe. Adding mushrooms to this dish is totally optional!
- Garlic– For added flavors, you want to add freshly minced garlic. Canned minced garlic or powder is also an easier option.
- Flavor– The key to any dish is the way you season it! For the seasoning we use salt, pepper, garlic, Italian, and paprika. You can use any of your favorite seasonings!
- Marinara– You can use your go-to pasta sauce for this recipe. Be sure to use a high-quality pasta sauce.
- Cheese– Any shredded cheese can be used for this pasta. We like to use shredded Mexican blend, mozzarella, or Italian blend. For a fresher cheese, freshly grate your block of cheese!
- Greens– Freshly chopped cilantro or parsley always elevates this pasta dish! Adding freshly chopped greens is totally optional.
HOW TO MAKE ROTINI PASTA
- Cook the rotini pasta according to package instructions.
- In a skillet, sauté the onion and mushrooms until browned. Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant.
- Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking apart as it cooks. Add the seasoning and toss to combine.
- Pour in the marinara sauce and bring to a simmer. Once the sauce is simmering, add the cooked pasta, shredded cheese, and freshly chopped greens and mix to combine.
- Top with shredded cheese and cover the lid to allow the cheese to melt.
- Serve immediately when hot with desired sides.
| Reheating Tip– Add a couple splashes of milk or marinara sauce along with the leftover pasta to a skillet and reheat until warmed. Toss with extra shredded cheese. |
SERVING IDEAS
Pair this rotini pasta with the right sides for the ultimate Italian-inspired dinner! Here are some of our favorite sides to serve this dish with:
- Greek Salad
- Caesar Salad
- Olive Garden Salad
- Homemade Garlic Bread
- Cheesy Bread
QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE:
No! You can substitute for any other pasta you prefer.
Yes, you can swap out the ground beef for ground pork, sausage, ground chicken, and ground chicken.
No! You can make a simple meat and sauce pasta, or you can even add bell peppers or jalapenos!
Once the pasta is cool, store it in the fridge. Leftovers can be kept for up to 3-4 days.
Yes, you can make the entire dish then reheat before serving. You can also prepare the beefy sauce mixture up to a day ahead of time, then just warm it while the pasta is cooking and then mix and serve.
Yes! We love freezing this dish! Once cool, transfer to a freezer safe bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight then reheat right before serving.
Reheat the pasta in a skillet with a splash or marinara sauce or milk and additional cheese. When adding the extra marinara sauce or milk it helps to give you a juicy pasta since it tends to dry out as it sits.
Ground Beef Rotini Pasta
Ingredients
- 12 oz rotini pasta cooked al dente
- 1/2 cup red or yellow onion finely chopped
- 4 oz mushrooms sliced
- 1 Tbsp canola oil
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
- ¼ tsp paprika
- 24 oz marinara sauce 1 can
- 3/4 cup shredded cheese
- 1 Tbsp freshly chopped cilantro optional
Instructions
- Cook the rotini pasta according to package instructions. Drain and add back into the pot and close with the lid to keep warm. Lightly drizzle in oil to avoid the pasta from sticking to each other.
- In a deep skillet, sauté the onion and mushrooms with 1 Tbsp oil on medium high heat for about 2-3 minutes or until browned. Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant.
- Add the ground beef and cook for about 5 minutes or until browned, breaking apart as it cooks. Season with salt, garlic, Italian, and black pepper.
- Pour in the marinara sauce and bring to a simmer. Once the sauce is simmering, add the cooked pasta, shredded cheese, and freshly chopped greens to the skillet and mix to combine.
- Remove from heat and top with shredded cheese and cover the lid for a couple minutes to allow the cheese to melt.
- Serve immediately when hot with desired sides.
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