Creamy Tuscan Ground Beef Pasta

A hearty, creamy pasta dish featuring seasoned ground beef, sun-dried tomatoes, fresh spinach, and a rich, cheesy sauce elevated by cottage cheese, perfect for a satisfying weeknight meal.

• Prep: 15 min
• Cook: 20 min
• Total: 35 min
• Servings: 5
• Cuisine: Italian
• Difficulty: Easy
• Cost: $3.63/serving

Dietary

• Nut-Free
• Soy-Free
• Egg-Free
• High-Protein
• Low-Sugar

Tags

• quick
• comfort food
• savory
• sauté
• classic

Ingredients

• 8 ounce penne pasta
• 1 pound ground beef (80/20 lean)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 yellow onion (small, diced)
• 3 clove garlic (minced)
• 0.5 cup sun-dried tomatoes (oil-packed, drained and chopped)
• 1 cup beef broth
• 0.5 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup cottage cheese (full-fat)
• 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese (grated)
• 5 ounce fresh spinach
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (dried)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 tablespoon fresh parsley (chopped)

Instructions

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the penne pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve about 1 cup of the pasta cooking water before draining the pasta.
2. While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it apart with a spoon, until browned, about 5-7 minutes. Drain any excess grease.
3. Add the diced yellow onion to the skillet with the beef and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and chopped sun-dried tomatoes, cooking for another 1 minute until fragrant.
4. Pour in the beef broth and stir in the dried Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 2-3 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
5. Reduce heat to low. Stir in the heavy cream, cottage cheese, and 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese. Cook gently until the cheeses are melted and the sauce is creamy, about 2-3 minutes. Do not boil.
6. Add the fresh spinach to the skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, until the spinach is just wilted, about 2-3 minutes. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta cooking water until it reaches your desired consistency.
7. Add the drained pasta to the skillet with the creamy beef sauce. Toss to combine, ensuring all the pasta is coated.
8. Serve hot, garnished with additional grated Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley, if desired.

Notes

Leftovers store well in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave, adding a splash of water or broth if needed to loosen the sauce.

Nutrition (per serving)

• Calories: 679
• Protein: 37.3 g
• Carbohydrates: 38.6 g
• Fat: 39.3 g
• Fiber: 4.9 g
• Sodium: 729 mg
• Saturated Fat: 18.6 g
• Sugar: 3 g
• Cholesterol: 116 mg