Add extra vegetables to your day with this easy one-skillet pasta recipe. Finely chop mushrooms to resemble the texture of ground beef and stir them into a classic meat sauce for a healthy twist on a dinnertime favourite.
Ingredients
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1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
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1 pound 90% lean ground beef
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8 ounces mushrooms, finely chopped or pulsed in a food processor
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½ cup diced onion
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1 15-ounce can no-salt-added tomato sauce
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1 cup water
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1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
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1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
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¾ teaspoon salt
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½ teaspoon garlic powder
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8 ounces whole-wheat rotini or fusilli
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½ cup shredded extra-sharp Cheddar cheese
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¼ cup chopped fresh basil for garnish
Directions
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Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add beef, mushrooms and onion and cook, stirring, until the beef is no longer pink and the mushroom liquid is mostly evaporated, 8 to 10 minutes.
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STEP 2
Stir in tomato sauce, water, Worcestershire, Italian seasoning, salt and garlic powder.
Step 3
Add pasta. Bring to a boil.
Step 4
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Cover, reduce heat and cook, stirring once or twice, until the pasta is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed, 16 to 18 minutes.
Step 5
Sprinkle the pasta with cheese, cover and cook until the cheese is melted, 2 to 3 minutes more.
Step 6
Garnish with basil, if desired.
Nutrition Notes
Is Ground Beef Healthy?
Ground beef comes in several different fat-to-meat ratios. This recipe calls for 90% lean ground beef, which means it’s 90% meat and 10% fat. If you wanted to go a little leaner, you could use 93/7 ground beef, which means it’s 93% meat and 7% fat. This is about the same as ground turkey, which could be substituted in place of the beef if you prefer that. Lean ground beef provides protein, vitamin B12, zinc, selenium, choline, iron and some B vitamins.
Are There Health Benefits of Using Whole Wheat Pasta?
Regular pasta is made with refined white flour. This means that before the wheat kernel was ground into flour, the outer layers were removed—and most of the nutrients and fiber live in the outer layers. Whole-wheat pasta, on the other hand, is made with the entire (whole) wheat kernel, outer layers and all. So, whole-wheat pasta typically has more fiber and nutrients overall than pasta made with refined white flour.
Tips from the Test Kitchen
What Type of Mushrooms Should I Use?
You can use any type of mushroom, such as cremini, portobello or button mushrooms. When shopping for mushrooms, they should feel dry and firm to the touch, have a smooth outer appearance and are free from any dark spots. Be sure to clean the mushrooms well before using.
Do I Add Uncooked or Cooked Pasta?
Uncooked pasta is added to the ground beef and tomato sauce mixture and covered with a lid to finish cooking over low heat. Use a tight-fitting lid to ensure the moisture and heat stay within the skillet to cook the pasta through.
Can I Use a Different Type of Shredded Cheese?
We sprinkle the pasta with shredded extra-sharp Cheddar, but feel free to try other types of cheese. Shredded mozzarella cheese, provolone or Asiago would be great substitutes for the Cheddar cheese.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Make Ground Beef & Pasta Skillet Ahead?
Yes, you can make it ahead and refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3 days.