This spicy ground beef pasta recipe is a one-pot pasta dish you can cook over a stove top and serve straight from the stove to the dinner table. 

A minced beef sauce made with ground beef, onion, ginger garlic paste, fresh tomatoes, tomato paste, bay leaves, spices and creamy coconut milk.

All you need is some fresh basil leaves and parmesan cheese to top this ground beef pasta.

Imagine you are out on the road, you need to get home and fix a meal for the kids for lunch or dinner.

For such busy days my go to meal is this delicious ground beef pasta which takes just 30-40 minutes to cook and serve.

How I make the ground beef pasta for school lunch

I use the stovetop beef pasta recipe as a school lunch box meal for the kids as well.

The tomato-minced beef sauce adds variety to their regular school meal and is filling enough to keep them full till they reach home.

As for the amount of heat, I reduce it and substitute parmesan with grated(using the smallest holes)cheddar cheese on top. 

You can also replace your regular work lunch with this beef pasta one-pot dish.

Want to save more time in the morning?

Cook the minced meat the night before, cool it, store. 

All you need to do in the morning is to heat the minced meat, cook the pasta and toss until the pasta is coated with the minced beef sauce.

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Tips to cook the best spicy ground beef pasta.

• A delicious pasta starts with NOT overcooking it, keep in mind that the remaining heat after boiling the pasta and tossing them with a hot beef sauce will further cook your pasta.
• So make sure that it’s “al dente” or half-cooked.  

• If you are making the meat sauce for the first time, take your time building the flavors with each ingredient while constantly tasting it, after all the meat sauce is what adds flavor to the pasta. 

• I like to use two wooden spoons to combine the ground meat sauce with the pasta. 

• Basil, parsley are some fresh herbs you can add at the end. I make sure to chop them fine so the kids can’t pick them off the pasta. 

• If you are packing it up for school or work lunch, make sure the beef pasta is cool before closing the lid of the lunch box.
• you can’t help but have a slightly cold pasta when served as a school lunch box meal BUT pasta always, I repeat always, tastes better when served warm and just after you cook it. 

• If you are simultaneously making the ground beef sauce and cooking the pasta shells, always make the minced meat sauce first and halfway through, start boiling water to cook the pasta.

What should I make first, pasta or sauce?

The idea is to keep the pasta as fresh as possible without letting it dry.
I would recommend making the minced meat sauce first and then halfway through start with the pasta(I’ve indicated this on the recipe instructions).

Utensils and appliances needed.

• Chopping board and knife.
• Large pot with a lid to boil the pasta.
• Wok to assemble the main ingredients.

More Pasta recipes

Coconut Curry pasta/Dairy-free.

Red curry pasta(Thai & dairy-free).

tuna pasta(dairy-free coconut milk pasta)

Spicy penne pasta(penne arrabbiata).

More recipes with ground beef you can try

aloo keema recipe(ground beef and potato curry).

Beef keema curry with Garlic-Coriander

red lentil-ground beef chili(one pot meals)

curry spiced homemade sloppy joes.

RECIPE DIFFICULTY-EASY

Spicy ground beef pasta (stovetop).

The ingredients mentioned below use standard measuring cups and spoons.

Ingredients to make the ground beef pasta sauce

4-5 tablespoons of oil

2 medium-sized onions sliced fine

1 tablespoon of ginger-garlic paste

1-2 bay leaves

2 green chillies chopped

1 teaspoon of chilli powder(reduce/increase as per your need)

1 tablespoon of fresh ground pepper

2 tablespoon of sugar

1 can of whole peeled tomato(substitute with a can of diced tomatoes or chop 3 large tomatoes)

2 tablespoon tomato paste(I’ve also used 2 tablespoons of tomato ketchup as a substitute).

500g of ground/minced meat(you can go up to 700g if you want a thicker meatier sauce)

A pack/500g of rotini pasta(you can use any type of pasta shells)

1/2 cup of coconut milk(increase to 1 cup if you want a creamier meat sauce, you can use cooking cream as a substitute)

Salt to season

A handful of basil leaf(garnish)

1/4 cup parmesan cheese

Method

Prep work before cooking the minced beef sauce.

• Remove the minced meat from the refrigerator and place it in a bowl of water to thaw. if the ground beef/minced beef is frozen then take it out from the freezer 30-40 minutes earlier to defrost completely.
• If you are not using canned tomatoes then chop some fresh tomatoes(3 large)and set aside.
• Cook the pasta and set aside.

How to boil and cook pasta.

Even before you cook the pasta check the cooking time mentioned on the pasta package. (usually, it’s 8-12 minutes).

Always use a fairly large pot, this would allow the pasta to expand as it cooks without crowding and sticking together.

Place the pan over the stove and pour in the water, you will need to fill the pan with water enough to submerge the pasta.

Add 2 teaspoons of salt to the water.

Cover pan with a lid and bring water to a fast boil with increased heat and add the pasta to the boiling water, give a stir with a wooden spoon to remove any pasta sticking together.

5 minutes into cooking the pasta, switch off the fire and let the remaining heat cook the pasta for another 2 minutes.

The pasta should be cooked at this time, immediately drain the pasta to a colander and run cold water through it to avoid overcooking the pasta.

How to cook ground beef sauce for the pasta.

Place a wok or a large pan over medium heat, pour in the oil(4-5 tbsps)and add the ginger-garlic paste(2 tbsps).

Saute for a few minutes(2-3) or until they release their aroma and turn golden.

Add the onions(2 medium-sized sliced fine), bay leaf(1-2), green chilli(2) and continue to cook the ingredients until the onions turn translucent.

Add chilli powder(1 tsp, reduce or increase as per your need).
Add pepper(1 tbsp), sugar(2 tbsp). combine for a few seconds.

Then pour in the can of peeled tomato(substitute with chopping 3 large tomatoes)followed by tomato paste(2 tbsps, I have substituted with 2 tbsps of ketchup as well).

Reduce heat to low-medium, break down the peeled tomatoes while combining all the ingredients, season with salt.

Add the minced meat to the pan, combine all ingredients and cook for a few minutes while breaking down the meat(less than 5-7minutes)over low medium heat.

Taste and season with salt if necessary. 

Once you are satisfied with the flavours of the meat sauce, add 1/2 cup of coconut milk(increase to 1 cup if you want a creamier meat sauce, you can use cooking cream as a substitute).

keep in mind the more coconut milk or cooking cream you add the lighter the sauce colour becomes.

You can add extra chilli powder and pepper to add more spiciness to the beef pasta at this stage.

Cook for another 5-7 minutes over low medium flame, taste and season the meat sauce as per your need.

The end result should be a thick meaty minced beef pasta sauce.

Once you have a thick meat sauce, taste again to check on flavours and add the cooked pasta to the sauce(how-to instructions given above).

Use two wooden spoons to combine both ingredients, garnish with parmesan and basil.

Serve while the pasta is still warm for the best results.

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