One Pot Penne Bolognese (Easy Ground Beef and Penne Pasta Recipe)

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Looking for a quick and easy one pot meal for dinner tonight? This simple penne bolognese recipe is exactly what you need!

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Looking for a quick and easy one pot meal for dinner tonight? This simple penne bolognese recipe is exactly what you need! As far as pasta recipes go, this is a dinner the whole family will love.

I know what it’s like to be a busy mom, juggling all of the crazy-ness of the day and then also having to figure out what to make for dinner…every single night of your life!

That’s why I love a good fast dinner recipe, and this one is under 20 minutes!

Bonus points if the meal only requires a few affordable ingredients. Even better, this recipe uses only one pot for easy clean up! Less dishes? Yes please!

This recipe is easy to double (or triple) for large families, or make a large batch and eat leftovers the next day or for lunch.

Why You’ll Love This Ground Beef Pasta Recipe

• This penne pasta recipe is beyond easy and ready in under 20 minutes, perfect for a busy night.
• The creamy ground beef pasta is the perfect meal to make for picky eaters, and will become one of your most popular recipes in your home!
• This delicious pasta recipe is a great way to to make an easy dinner with quick cleanup since it’s a one pot pasta recipe! Only one dish to clean, woo hoo!

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What is Penne Bolognese?

A Bolognese recipe is a meat sauce that is mixed together with pasta before serving. Simply put, a penne Bolognese is a dish using penne style pasta mixed with meat sauce.

If you are trying to make dinner with whatever you have on hand in your pantry, you can use any kind of pasta! This is an easy recipe that every beginner home chef should keep in her back pocket for busy weeknights.

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Ingredients to make One Pot Ground Beef and Penne Pasta Bolognese

This recipe uses simple ingredients that you likely already have on hand in your pantry! If you don’t have ground beef, you can use any ground meat such as ground turkey. You could also use leftover beef to stretch your food budget. You can also use cheddar cheese or add cream cheese to make the sauce even creamier. Add a dash of fresh basil, garlic powder, or red pepper flakes to season the pasta to your taste if you wish. However, if you are a beginner cook and this is the first time you are making this recipe, follow the recipe as listed, and you will have a great recipe to share with your family!

• 1 lb lean Ground Beef
• 1 tbsp Minced Garlic
• 2 cups Beef Broth
• 3 cups Uncooked Penne Noodles
• 2 cups Spaghetti Sauce or tomato sauce of choice
• 1 cup Shredded Mozzarella cheese
• 1 tsp Italian Seasoning (optional)

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Equipment needed

Large pot or skillet

How to Make One Pot Penne Bolognese for Dinner Tonight

Step 1: Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat.

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Step 2: When the meat is mostly cooked (almost no pink remaining), add the garlic. Continue to cook for 1 to 2 minutes.

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Step 3: Add the beef broth and bring to a boil.

Step 4: Add the penne noodles, stirring to cover all of the noodles with the broth. 

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Step 5: Bring to a boil, cooking for an additional 7 to 8 minutes or until the noodles are tender.

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Step 6: Add the spaghetti sauce and stir until all of the noodles are covered and continue to cook until the mixture is hot throughout.

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Step 7: Add the shredded mozzarella and allow to simmer for 2 to 3 minutes or until the cheese is melted, then enjoy!

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How to Freeze Ground Beef and Penne Bolognese

This penne Bolognese recipe is a perfect freezer meal to make ahead for busy weeknights. The easiest way to make this meal freezer friendly is to cook ground beef in bulk to use in several different recipes, add the sauce, and pop it in your freezer.

Store the sauce in an airtight container (for up to 3 months), like these reusable freezer bags.

When you’re ready to eat, defrost your meat sauce by placing it in the fridge the night before, then reheat your sauce on the stove. Simply take the 8-10 minutes to cook your pasta and add the sauce and serve.

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Ground Beef and Penne Pasta Bolognese

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You'll want to add this easy ground beef and penne pasta recipe to your weeknight meal plan! It only uses one pot for easy cleanup and is ready in under 20 minutes.

Ingredients

• 1 lb Ground Beef
• 1 tbsp Minced Garlic
• 2 cups Beef Broth
• 3 cups Uncooked Penne Noodles
• 2 cups Spaghetti Sauce of Choice
• 1 cup Shredded Mozzarella

Instructions

1. Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
2. When the meat is mostly cooked (almost no pink remaining), add the garlic. Continue to cook for 1 to 2 minutes.
3. Add the beef broth and bring to a boil.
4. Add the penne noodles, stirring to cover all of the noodles with the broth. 
5. Bring to a boil, cooking for an additional 7 to 8 minutes or until the noodles are tender.
6. Add the spaghetti sauce and stir until all of the noodles are covered and continue to cook until the mixture is hot throughout.
7. Add the shredded mozzarella and allow to simmer for 2 to 3 minutes or until the cheese is melted, then enjoy!

Did you make this recipe?

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