15 Cozy Ground Beef Pasta Recipes

easy skillet hamburger and noodles recipe — The Spruce / Diana Rattray

When you need an easy, budget-friendly recipe, ground beef pasta fits the bill. Many of our favorite recipes use ingredients you already have in your pantry, so you can put dinner together last-minute. When cooking with ground beef, always check to see whether it calls for a particular fat content. Using a higher fat percentage than the recipe suggests may result in a greasier dish, while some call for a higher fat content because a little extra fat keeps it moist.

You can also substitute ground chicken or turkey in most cases if you prefer a leaner protein. Just know that may result in a drier dish because they don't have as much fat as beef. Whether you like one-dish casseroles, skillet meals, or more complex preparations for a quiet weekend, you'll find something to love on this list.

01 of 15

Spicy Pasta with Ground Beef and Tomatoes

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

With lots of garlic, tomatoes, and spices, this zesty ground beef and pasta recipe tastes extra cozy. Use elbow macaroni, mini penne, small shells, or other similar pasta sizes. Some call this comforting dish "American chop suey," and it's endlessly customizable. Use Cajun or Mexican seasoning for different flavors, or omit the seasoning packet entirely for a milder taste.
02 of 15

Baked Ziti with Ground Beef

The Spruce / Emily Baker

The classic baked ziti has become a potluck staple for a reason: Its creamy, cheesy, meaty flavor pleases lots of palates, and you can easily scale it up to serve a crowd. Ziti pasta works best, but you can use any small shaped noodle. Use lean ground beef for best results.
03 of 15

Pastitsio Baked Pasta

The Spruce / Teena Agnel

The Greek pasta bake Pastitsio combines a creamy bechamel sauce, ground beef or lamb, and pasta for a layered dish that some call the Greek lasagna. While this dish call for some specialty ingredients, you can substitute regular macaroni for the pastitsio macaroni and Parmesan for the Kefalotyri cheese in a pinch.
04 of 15

Instant Pot Lasagna

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

For lasagna that takes much less time and effort than the traditional method but still tastes just like grandma's, try this Instant Pot version. It only takes 34 minutes to make, compared to the all-day affair of some lasagna preparations. If you have a 7-inch springform pan, that would work great in this method.

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05 of 15

Hamburger Noodle Skillet

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

Tomatoes and chili sauce give this quick and easy skillet dinner vibrant color and tongue-tickling spice. Macaroni, ziti, penne, or another shaped pasta will mix well with the ground beef and hold the sauce well. Round out the meal with a green salad or steamed veggies on the side.
06 of 15

Loaded Pizza Casserole

The Spruce / Diana Mocanu

When you can't decide between pizza or pasta, split the difference with this hearty pizza casserole. It uses lean ground beef and all of the classic 'za fixins. If you don't care for bell pepper, olives, or pepperoni on your pie, go ahead and leave those out. Adding sausage, banana peppers, mushrooms, or other veggies would also taste great.
07 of 15

Instant Pot Bolognese Pasta

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

Italians already know the warming delight of bolognese, a slow-simmered meat sauce chock full of vegetables, dry wine, and cream served with wide noodles like tagliatelle. Instead of spending all day over the stove, your Instant Pot brings it all together in just 30 minutes. If you don't have tagliatelle, spaghetti works too.
08 of 15

Sloppy Joe Macaroni and Cheese Casserole

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

Forego the bun and serve this Sloppy Joe casserole for a slightly neater dinner than the classic. Meaty and cheesy with a little breadcrumb crunch, this hearty one-dish dinner hits a home run with kids and adults alike.

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09 of 15

Taco Cheeseburger Macaroni

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

A taco seasoning packet gives this simple macaroni and ground beef dish its Southwestern flavor, while the cream of cheddar soup adds a creamy element. You can use other condensed soup, but it won't come out quite as cheesy. It comes together in under 30 minutes, for a convenient weeknight meal.
10 of 15

Instant Pot Spaghetti Dinner

The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

Spaghetti dinners often rely on long-simmered red sauce, but you can have one on the table in under an hour with this Instant Pot recipe. Just brown up the ground beef with onion and garlic, add the rest of the ingredients, and pressurize. For a complete meal, add some garlic bread and a Caesar salad.
11 of 15

Spinach Lasagna Roll-Ups

The Spruce / Rachel Riesgraf

Turn your standard spinach lasagna on its head–literally–with these whimsical roll-ups that the whole family will love. To make things even easier, use a prepared marinara sauce. The casserole also freezes well, for a make-ahead meal.
12 of 15

Crock Pot Hamburger Soup

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

When most of us think of ground beef and macaroni, soup doesn't immediately come to mind. But start with those two and add veggies, onion soup mix, barley, and beef stock, and you have a slow cooker soup that turns out filling enough to make its own meal. Just add crusty bread for dipping.

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13 of 15

One-Pot Penne alla Vodka

EzumeImages / Getty Images

Loaded with tons of ground beef, crushed tomatoes, heavy cream, and just the slightest sharpness from vodka, this one-pot pasta works just as well for date night as a weeknight family meal. Some fresh-grated Parmesan cheese would just top it all off.
14 of 15

Rigatoni Bake with Ground Beef

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

Sometimes you just need a big ol' pan of meat, cheese, and carbs. When that craving strikes, we have the rigatoni bake for you. This recipe sneaks some zucchini in there for extra nutrition in a casserole that tastes like a treat.
15 of 15

Beef Stroganoff with Noodles

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

Because you cook it in one pan, this fragrant, meaty beef stroganoff makes an easy weeknight supper. Use a deep skillet or Dutch oven to make it, and lean ground beef so the end product doesn't end up oily. Always taste before salting, since the condensed consomme already has plenty.