Name: One Pot Creamy Tomato Pasta (with beef and spinach)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 tbsp olive oil (or neutral-tasting oil); 300g ground beef; 1 onion, diced or 2 tbsp onion paste; 3-4 garlic cloves, minced or 1 tbsp garlic paste; 400ml tomato sauce (homemade or store-bought); 400ml water or beef stock; 1 cup milk; 1 tsp salt, or to taste; ½ tsp black pepper, or to taste; 4 servings or 2 cups (200g) penne pasta; 2 cups fresh spinach, loosely packed; 100g cheese (mozzarella, parmesan, or a mix), shredded; parsley or basil, for garnish

One Pot Creamy Tomato Pasta: A delightful blend of creamy tomato sauce, beef, and spinach. Perfect for busy nights and full of flavor!

I love pastas, and if you see me whipping some up, it’s very possible that it’s a one-pot, one-pan pasta dish. Minimal dishes, easy cleanup, rich and creamy (without using expensive heavy cream hello!), easily adjustable with the ingredients, and all-round crowd pleaser! This One Pot Creamy Tomato Pasta hits all the spots – quick and easy, nutritious and chock full of flavours!

If you’re looking for a comforting, hearty dinner that’s both delicious and easy to clean up, this One-Pan Pasta is your answer! This dish is the ultimate weeknight hero: minimal prep, all cooked in one pan, and packed with flavor. With ground beef, spinach, and a creamy tomato-based sauce, it’s a one-stop meal that’s hearty enough to please the entire family. Plus, it’s super customizable with whatever ingredients you have on hand!

What is One-Pan Pasta?

One-pan pasta is a lifesaver for busy weeknights. It combines the pasta, sauce, and protein all in one pan, allowing the pasta to cook directly in the sauce. Not only does this make the pasta more flavorful, but it also saves you from having to wash multiple pots and pans. The pasta soaks up all the delicious flavors of the sauce as it cooks, creating a rich, hearty dish with minimal effort.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

One Pan, No Mess: All the magic happens in one pan — fewer dishes to wash, more time to relax!
Quick and Easy: Done in under 30 minutes, this is perfect for busy weeknights or lazy weekends.
Versatile: Customize it with different pasta, veggies, proteins!
Kid-Friendly: The creamy, cheesy sauce will have kids asking for seconds.
Nutrient-Packed: With fresh spinach stirred in at the end, this dish sneaks in a healthy serving of greens.

Key Ingredients

Pasta: Penne works perfectly for this recipe, but feel free to use whatever short pastas you have on hand—macaroni, fusilli, rigatoni, or farfalle would work great too. Make sure to adjust the cook times accordingly.

Tomato Sauce: Whether you use homemade or store-bought tomato pasta sauce, this is the base of the sauce. Opt for a marinara or pasta sauce of your choice. If you need an easy homemade tomato sauce recipe, this is mine!

Ground Beef: Adds heartiness and depth to the dish. You can also swap it for ground chicken, turkey, or even a plant-based option for a vegetarian version.

Onion and Garlic: The key aromatics to build flavour! Use diced onions and minced garlic, or use my homemade aromatic paste that I always have at the ready in the fridge!

Milk: This is my ultimate secret to add creaminess without the use of heavy cream! Heavy cream can often be too… heavy and rich, plus it’s a more expensive than milk. Letting the milk cook with the pasta starches delivers the perfect amount of creaminess to balance the tomato sauce, making it rich without being heavy.

Spinach: A handful of spinach stirred in at the end adds colour and nutrition to the dish. You can sub it with kale, arugula or basil if you prefer. I’ve also stirred in my local Asian greens such as kangkong or water spinach, chye sim, and even cabbages! Bok choy can work too, but not my favourite.

Cheese: Top it off with cheese to make it gooey and comforting. Mozzarella, parmesan, or a mix of both works well.

Key Steps to Make One Pot Creamy Tomato Pasta

1. Sauté the Beef

Heat olive oil or neutral tasting oil of choice in a large pot over medium heat.

Add ground beef and cook until browned and the liquid has evaporated.

2. Cook the Aromatics

Push beef to one side, or create a well in the middle.

Add extra oil if needed. Add onions and garlic to the pot.

Saute until fragrant before stir frying with the ground beef.

3. Add Tomato Sauce and Liquids

Pour in the tomato sauce.

Add water (or stock) to thin out the sauce so pasta can cook properly.

Stir in milk.

TIP! Add water to the tomato sauce jar, and shake and add to the pot – no sauce gets left behind!

4. Stir in Pasta and Let Cook

Stir in the penne pasta, or pasta of choice.

Season with salt and pepper.

Let the sauce come up to a boil, before bring it down to a simmer.

Cook for 12 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is al dente and the sauce has slightly thickened. The sauce will further thicken as it cools.

For one pan pasta dishes, extend the cook time on the packaging by 1-2 minutes to get to al dente. The cook time is also dependent on pasta type, pot type, and how thick your sauce is. The best way is to simply check the doneness at the 12 minute mark and let cook to preference!

5. Add Spinach

Stir in the spinach, and cook until wilted but still bright green – about 1-2 minutes.

Immediately turn off the heat.

6. Add Cheese

Add cheese over the top, and close with a lid until cheese melts in the residual heat.

Add cheese, and immediately stir until melted and creamy.

Adjust seasoning to taste.

7. Serve

Garnish with basil or chopped parsley if desired. Dish up the creamy beef and spinach pasta with tomato sauce.

Enjoy straight from the pot!

How to Serve

Serve your One-Pan Pasta straight from the pan, family-style.

This has your carbs, proteins and vegetables all in one pan – perfect as a complete meal on its own!

Tips and Tricks

Use a Large Pan: Make sure your pan is big enough to hold the pasta and sauce comfortably. A deep skillet or sauté pan works well.
Stir Occasionally: Stirring the pasta while it cooks ensures that it doesn’t stick to the pan and that it absorbs the sauce evenly.
Don’t Overcook the Pasta: Cook it until just al dente, as it will continue to soften slightly after you take it off the heat.
Add More Veggies: Feel free to throw in other veggies like mushrooms, bell peppers, or zucchini for more texture and nutrients.
Season As You Go: Taste the sauce before adding the pasta and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper. Once the pasta is in, the flavor will continue to concentrate.

Storing and Reheating

Storing

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. The pasta may soak up more of the sauce as it sits, so expect it to be thicker the next day.

Reheating

To reheat, add a splash of water, stock, or milk to loosen the sauce before microwaving or reheating on the stove. This will help bring back the creamy consistency.

Freezing

It’s possible to freeze the pasta. Let it cool completely, then store it in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months. When ready to eat, thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat on the stove, adding extra liquid as needed. Do not heat it up longer than necessary, as the pasta will overcook.

If you know you want to freeze the pasta beforehand, it would help to undercook by 1-2 minutes.

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