Description
This creamy fusilli pasta is combined with a rich marinara sauce and ground beef, making for a delicious meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 – 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- ⅓ cup diced yellow onion
- 2 tablespoons chopped garlic
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper (adjust to taste)
- 1 lb ground beef (lean preferred)
- 1 28-oz jar marinara sauce (any brand works)
- ¼ cup water (to rinse the jar)
- 4 oz cream cheese (½ block)
- ⅓ cup pasta water (added at the end)
- 1 lb fusilli pasta (or any shape)
- Grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh basil or parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium to medium-low heat. Add diced onion, garlic, Italian seasoning, and crushed red pepper.
- This is not a stir-fry — Italian cooking isn’t a race. Let everything cook slowly until the onions are soft, translucent, and lightly golden.
- Add the ground beef and cook until browned.
- If there’s excess fat, simply blot it with a paper towel.
- Pour in the jar of marinara sauce. Fill the empty jar with about ¼ cup water, shake it, and add that to the pan.
- Bring the sauce to a gentle boil, then lower to medium.
- Once the sauce is simmering, bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package directions.
- After the sauce has simmered about 10 minutes, lower the heat and add ½ block (4 oz) cream cheese directly to the center of the pan.
- Let it melt, then gently stir until fully creamy and combined.
- When the pasta is almost done, add about ⅓ cup pasta water to the sauce.
- Do not add pasta water too early — the starch is released toward the end of cooking, and that’s what makes the sauce silky.
- Bring the sauce back to a brief boil to combine, then reduce heat and let it simmer 5 more minutes.
- Toss the cooked pasta with the sauce. Finish with Parmesan cheese and fresh basil.
Notes
- This dish is perfect for a quick weeknight dinner.
- Adjust the level of spice by modifying the amount of crushed red pepper based on your preference.
- Using lean ground beef will keep the dish lighter.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Pasta
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 80mg