One-Pot Cheesy Beef Pasta

dumb and done meals

One pot8 ingredients30 min

Why it's dumb & done

The pasta cooks right in the sauce, so there's one pot to wash and no draining. Spinach goes in at the very end.

Why kids will like it

It's cheesy pasta with a mild tomato and beef sauce, and the spinach wilts down into it. Kids can tear the spinach and sprinkle on the cheese.

The recipe

You'll need

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes, with the juice
• 2 cups beef broth
• 8 ounces penne pasta (about 2 1/2 cups)
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups baby spinach
• 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Do this

1. Brown the beef in a deep 12-inch skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat, 6 to 8 minutes, breaking it up as it cooks. Spoon off extra grease.
2. Stir in the tomatoes with their juice, the broth, the penne, the garlic powder and the salt.
3. Bring to a boil, then turn the heat to medium-low, cover, and cook 12 to 14 minutes. Stir a couple of times so the pasta doesn't stick. If it looks dry before the pasta is tender, add a splash of water.
4. Stir in the spinach until it wilts, about 1 minute. The beef should reach 160°F.
5. Turn off the heat and stir in 1 cup of the cheese. Sprinkle the rest on top, cover for 2 minutes so it melts, then serve.

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