This easy, cheesy one pan mince pasta is going to be your new go-to quick weeknight meal. 30 minutes from start to finish and everything (including the pasta) is cooked in one pan!
I have to tell you, I am seriously considering not ever posting another dinner recipe on this blog ever again. We are so outright obsessed with this cheesy one pan mince pasta that I am struggling to think how I am going to top this.
Not only is it the ultimate comfort food situation, it also wins ALL the prizes for being speedy, cost efficient, easy to cook and ONE PAN!! We have been eating this at least once a week for the last couple of months and it's got to the point where I don't even erase it from the blackboard meal planner because it has well and truly earned a permanent spot there.
This recipe was originally going to be a mince pasta bake - it's such a classic family meal. But then I remembered that I hate doing dishes and knew that there had to be a way to avoid the frying pan + pasta pot + baked on cheese in the oven dish situation. Lightbulb. Throw the uncooked pasta into the mince when you add the sauce ingredients, cover up and let it do it's thing.
It's a miracle. The pasta cooks PERFECTLY in the sauce. I am never cooking pasta in a pot ever again.
Expert tip
The key is adding extra liquid to the sauce. A tin of tomatoes + a cup and a half of beef stock is the perfect amount - enough to cook the pasta and make a super delicious sauce. That's what I actually like about this over pasta bake - no risk of it drying out.
And if you think that you'll miss the melty cheesy goodness that comes with pasta bake, fear not. Once the pasta has cooked, throw liberal handfuls of your favourite grated cheese on top and cover it for another couple of minutes. The melty cheese that ensues will convert you if nothing else does.
Even better, if you have a cast iron pan, throw it under the grill for a couple of minutes instead to get the cheese golden.
Why this recipe works
- It is cheap to make
- Ready in 30 minutes
- Packed full of flavour
- Saucy
- Saves you dishes
- An epic melty cheese meal
It ticks every single dinner time box!
It's kid friendly, farmer friendly and hungry mama friendly. What more do you need?
More easy dinner ideas:
Super Simple Spaghetti Bolognese
30 Minute Stovetop Macaroni Cheese
Mushroom Pasta with Garlic Herb Butter Sauce
Cheesy One Pan Mince Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- ½ onion (chopped)
- 2 cloves garlic (crushed or finely chopped)
- 500 grams beef mince (ground beef)
- 1x 400 gram tin of chopped tomatoes
- ¼ cup tomato paste
- 1 ½ cups beef stock
- 1 Tablespoon dried mixed herbs
- 1 Tablespoon worcestershire sauce
- 2 cups dried penne pasta
- ½ cup grated mozzarella cheese (or any other cheese)
Instructions
- You will need a large frying pan with a lid for this recipe. If you don't have a pan with a lid, you can use tinfoil to cover it instead.
- Heat the oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook for 2 minutes until fragrant. Add the beef mince/ground beef and brown (about 5 minutes)
- Add tomatoes, tomato paste, beef stock, mixed herbs & worcestershire sauce and stir to combine.
- Reduce heat to medium/low, add the pasta and stir to combine. Cover and allow to cook for 15 minutes, stirring once during cooking.
- After 15 minutes, remove the lid and check that the pasta is cooked. If it needs, cook for an extra couple of minutes.
- Sprinkle the cheese on top and cover again for a further 2 minutes until the cheese has melted. If you have used an oven proof (e.g. cast iron) pan you can put it under the grill to melt the cheese if you would prefer.
- Take the pan off the heat and serve immediately!
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If you tried and loved this recipe, please leave a comment and a rating below!
Jo says
This recipe is our go to now for a quick easy meal that everyone loves. I chuck in whatever veges are floating around the fridge - just chop them up small and add them in with everything else.
Kelly says
Does anyone know if this can be made and frozen?
Laura says
Hi Kelly, I don't find that it freezes very well, only because I don't love how cooked pasta thaws! If you want to try it, I would undercook the pasta slightly and then add a little bit of liquid (either water or stock) while heating it to help the pasta finish cooking. Otherwise the mince portion of it freezes beautifully (just reduce the stock amount to 1/2 cup) and you can cook pasta separately when you are ready to serve it.
Maria says
Love it, so quick and easy, ingredients at hand. Thank you.
Karen says
My family love this..I am making it again tonight.So easy to make .I also add frozen mixed vegetables and not only is it healthy it feeds alot of hungry tummies..Will be making it for many years to come...
Leslee says
they all like it...yay
Sue says
Yum. What an easy and delicious meal. Thanks Laura. I added veggies to make it a one pot meal. I'm sure my family will love it.
Linda says
Made it for dinner tonight and I used venison mince and macaroni instead of beef and penne pasta... Thank you so much for this recipe ❤️ Love it!!
Sydney says
Another great recipe! Super easy and oh so yummy + who doesn't love little dishes?!
Andrea says
I've just got to say this is the best recipe ever! All the family like it, it's quick and easy and has become a regular thing with us. I often throw some veges on the top towards the end and then put the cheese over that. Thanks so much! (also have your ebook)
Connie says
Are the 558kals per portion ?
Laura says
Yes they are
Tracey Maisey says
Yum, and quick and easy 🙂
Alison wright says
I cook the pasta first as it doesn't get cooked in the pan
Kat says
Yummy for the soul 🙂
Jeanne pinion says
I made this tonight for the first time. Like I quite often do I added a little sprinkle of dried chilli. We found it to be one of the tastiest dishes we have had in a very long time. Thank you.
Danielle says
Yum! Usually when I google simple mince recipes they’re ok, but this was yummy even hubby said so too 🙂 Thanks!
Liz says
Another quick & easy recipe - loved not having a load of dishes at the end of cooking!
Choene says
Easy and quick to cook, amazing flavour
Suzie says
Absolutely love this recipe use it a lot 😋 Thankyou.
Ian says
Easy peasy recipe and warming.be good in winter.
kelly says
I love this recipe. It is delicious quick and loved by all.
Such a brilliant idea to cook everything together!
Dimitrius says
My family loved the recipe! First time making Pasta as well so was a bit nervous but was surprised how simple it was. Thank youuuu!