One Pot Ground Beef & Spinach Pasta Recipe
This One Pot Ground Beef & Spinach Pasta is the weeknight hero you didn’t know you needed—hearty, cheesy, and sneakily packed with greens so you feel like a responsible adult. Bonus: it all comes together in one pot, which means fewer dishes and more time to question your life choices over a second helping. Let’s do this!
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 teaspoon garlic
- 1 jar pasta sauce 24 oz
- 1 jar water
- 1 lb cavatappi
- 1 pkg fresh spinach 5-6 oz
- ¾ cup grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large pot or dutch oven over medium-high heat, add beef and cook until brown. Add garlic and cook for a minute or two.1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 lb lean ground beef, 1 teaspoon garlic
- Add the Italian seasoning and marinara sauce, fill sauce jar with water put the lid back on it and shake it, pour it into the pot. Stir in pasta, reduce to medium heat and cook 13-15 minutes or until pasta is tender.1 jar pasta sauce, 1 jar water, 1 lb cavatappi
- Add spinach and cook, stirring constantly until wilted.1 pkg fresh spinach
- Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and stir until melted.¾ cup grated parmesan cheese
Tips for success
If you’re using regular ground beef, you’ll want to drain the excess grease before adding the other ingredients—unless you’re into greasy pasta (no judgment, just… maybe don’t). It helps keep the sauce from getting oily and keeps the flavor just right.
Heads up—the pasta will take longer to cook than the package directions say. That’s because it’s not boiling in plain water; it’s soaking up all that saucy goodness. The key is to keep it at a gentle simmer so the liquid gets absorbed around the same time the pasta hits that perfect al dente stage. On most stoves, that means medium to medium-low heat, but every stove and pan has its quirks—so adjust as needed. And don’t forget to stir often to keep things from sticking to the bottom like it’s trying to become one with the pot.
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*Nutritional information is automatically calculated and is only an estimate. Actual values may vary depending on the ingredients and specific brands you use. If nutrition is important to you, I recommend using a calculator you trust.
Just toggle to the metric version to view the measurements in grams, milliliters, and more!
Why do you include metric measurements?
While the U.S. still mostly uses cups and tablespoons, the rest of the world uses metric. I include both to make my recipes easier for everyone—no conversions needed! The metric amounts are calculated automatically and work great for everyday cooking. Since these recipes aren’t for baking (where exact weights really matter), a few grams one way or the other won’t hurt a thing.Nutrition
Calories: 364kcalCarbohydrates: 48gProtein: 23gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 43mgSodium: 608mgPotassium: 595mgFiber: 3gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 461IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 113mgIron: 3mg
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