This 30-minute cheesy tomato pasta skillet is perfect for dinner. (Secret ingredient – arugula!) If you’re looking for game day recipes, this is the perfect dinner!
Well, we had a blizzard in Chicago. It snowed a lot, as it does when you have a blizzard. I shoveled a lot too.
I really wanted to finish putting this recipe up yesterday, but I got into a predicament. I kept seeing all of these people getting their car stuck in the snowy road (I do mean in and not on – there is a lot of snow.)
I wanted to ask them why they were out driving when it was obvious a plow hadn’t been by yet. But people always seem to have places to go.
Most of the stuck cars had only a driver in them. While not impossible, it is pretty difficult to get a car out of a snow filled ditch by yourself. So I went out shoveling a bunch of times before the storm got really bad and then a few times yesterday.
My version of a snow day I guess.
By the final time I went outside, I was beat. When I was done helping push my last car out of a ditch, I dragged my heels through the front door and collapsed on the couch. So instead of posting a late recipe, it’s getting published as a morning recipe. I hope you don’t mind.
Cheesy Tomato Pasta Skillet
You may also like my one pot spicy sausage skillet!
The reason I told you that little story isn’t just because I didn’t get my recipe published yesterday as intended. Shoveling snow is tiring and the last thing I wanted to do was cook dinner when I was done. I needed a recipe that was quick, easy and good for any day of the week.It starts with ground beef but you can also use ground turkey. You really want to use the leanest meat possible – if there is a lot of grease in your skillet you should drain some of it out before adding the onions.
If you follow my instructions in the order that I write them, I believe you can make this entire dish from start to finish in under 30 minutes.
The key is multitasking. Your pasta should be cooking while your meat is browning.
The “cheesy” part of this title comes from a few ounces of cream cheese. It melts quickly and if you use low-fat cream cheese, you can keep the calories down. And if you use gluten-free pasta, this can be gluten-free too. So many options. 🙂
Cheesy Tomato Pasta Skillet
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 cup diced onion
- 16 ounce ziti
- 28 ounce can of tomato sauce
- 1/2 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 4 ounces of cream cheese
- 1 cup fresh arugula
- salt to taste
Instructions
- In a large pot, begin cooking the box of ziti according to the package directions until al dente. Then begin browning the ground beef.
- When the ground beef is almost browned, add the diced onion (7-8 minutes.) Stir and saute with the ground beef for one minute. Then add the tomato sauce and Italian seasoning. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes. The pasta should be just about done cooking. When it is done, drain it and set aside.
- When the 10 minutes is up, add the cream cheese and stir until completely melted. Add the cooked pasta and toss in the sauce. Just before serving, add the arugula and mix.
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Serving Size | |
| Amount Per Serving | As Served |
| Calories 1005kcal Calories from fat 195 | |
| % Daily Value | |
| Total Fat 22g | 34% |
| Saturated Fat 8g | 40% |
| Transfat 0g | |
| Cholesterol 70mg | 23% |
| Sodium 10287mg | 429% |
| Carbohydrate 174g | 58% |
| Dietary Fiber 35g | 140% |
| Sugars 80g | |
| Protein 52g | |
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs:
| Calories | 2000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Fat | Less than | 65g |
| Sat Fat | Less than | 25g |
| Cholesterol | Less than | 300mg |
| Sodium | Less than | 2,400mg |
| Total Carbohydrate | 300g | |
| Dietary Fiber | 25g | |
This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.
- Need a skillet?
- There can never be enough one-pot meals.
- Artisan dinner plates.
Looking for more easy, 30-minute meals? Try these burrito bowls.
Or this 3-ingredient black bean soup!
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Sarah says
Sounds delicious! Definitely comfort food for a cold day 🙂
Sarah
Sweet Spontaneity
Jenny B says
Thanks Sarah! 🙂
Jess says
This sounds amazing! I’ve pinned it! YUM!
Thanks for joining the Link Up this week!
Jamie says
That looks so yummy!! Pinned it to try one night!
Jenny B says
Thanks Jamie!
cathy says
Yum, mouthwatering pasta dish! Pinned because I am making this for dinner tomorrow! 🙂 Saying hello from #foodiefriday
Cathy
Jenny B says
Thanks Cathy! It’s really yummy, and very easy! 🙂
Shannon {Cozy Country Living} says
Jenny this meal looks delicious! Perfect for a busy weeknight! Thanks so much for sharing this at the Project Parade! Hope to see you there again this week:)
Jenny B says
Thanks Shannon! I will stop by for sure 🙂
Amy l says
y husband made this last night for dinner, yum!
Jenny B says
So glad you liked it! And thanks for stopping back here and letting me know. Have a great weekend!
Kirsten says
Jenny,
Pasta is my default meal when I don’t have any ideas for dinner. I like how you’ve taken things I ordinarily have on hand (noodles, home-canned tomato sauce, cream cheese) and something I often have during the farm share greens season–arugula–and combined them into a meal my family would like to eat.
Thank you!
Jenny B says
Thank you Kirsten! I can’t stop myself when I see arugula – I have to add it to everything!
Suzy @ The Mediterranean Dish says
Arugula is just the right secret ingredient for this tasty-looking pasta! Great recipe!
Jenny B says
Thanks Suzy!
K says
This is totally my kind of dinner! Thanks for linking up with What’s cookin’ Wednesday!
Jenny B says
Aw thanks K!!
Shradha says
Is there a substitute for ground beef or I could
Totally avoid it?will it affect the taste.
Thx
Jenny B says
Ground turkey or chicken are great substitutes but I think if you left the meat out, it would still be flavorful. It will change the taste but I think it would still taste good. Hope that helps!
Jenn @ My Fabuless Life says
This looks SO good!! Definitely going to be trying this one ASAP!
Amanda says
Oh man, this looks SO good. Pinned! Thank you for sharing at Merry Monday!
Jenny B says
Thanks Amanda!
April R - Uncookie Cutter says
Wow, this looks great! I love a good skillet pasta dish! I’d like to invite you to come link up at our new party, where we make the features! Thanks for much for sharing, have a great weekend!
Christie Campbell says
This looks perfect for us for dinner. We are always on the lookout for easy and quick
Michelle | A Dish of Daily Life says
I am always in need of an easy dinner recipe, and we go through pasta here like there is no tomorrow! Definitely will be adding this one to the school year rotation!
Justine says
This looks wonderful, i love the arugula in it!
Sandra Shaffer says
My favorite mid-week meals to make are skillet dishes, so I’m always on the hunt for more recipes! Perfect amount of cheese in this dish! I’ll be giving this a try!
lisa@Lisa's Dinnertime Dish says
Pasta is my go-to and this recipe sounds so delicious! I’m going to have to give it a try soon!
Lori Vachon says
Now I NEED a big bowl of pasta!!! Looks fantastic!
Jennifer A Stewart says
This pasta dish brings me back to when my parents had the Italian restaurant and on days that we were not working (Sunday) we made quick skillets with pasta and a variety of meats so vary it. Thanks for a great reminder!
Angela says
I just love these easy one pan meals. This sounds like one my family is going to LOVE!!
Michaela Kenkel says
Pasta is my comfort food. This one sounds sensational!!
Dini @ The Flavor Bender says
I love EVERYTHING about this! It looks delicious and it’s perfect comfort food too 🙂
Adding it to my must try recipe collection! 🙂
Ashlyn @ Belle of the Kitchen says
This is a total comfort food dinner and I love skillet dinners! The addition of arugula is such a great idea, too!
Janet Vinyard says
This sounds so quick and easy yet comforting! I love adding cream cheese to anything – it just adds such richness to the dish! Thanks for sharing the recipe! Blessings, Janet
Helen at the Lazy Gastronome says
Looks delicious! Thanks for sharing on the What’s for Dinner link up and don’t forget to leave a comment at the party – Next week’s features that also leave a comment get pinned and tweeted!
Michelle says
Sounds heavenly!
Thanks for the recipe!
Michelle
Debbie says
Definitely trying the pasta.
Alicia Owen says
This looks so good! I just love easy pasta dishes. I might have to try this out tomorrow night. 🙂
sahana says
Looks yum. Thank you for sharing with us at #HomeMattersParty . We would love to have you again next week.