Description
A hearty and flavorful Ground Beef and Spinach Pasta dish combining tender farfalle pasta with savory browned ground beef, sautéed vegetables, and a creamy tomato-based sauce enriched with ricotta, Greek yogurt, and Parmesan cheese. Perfectly balanced with Italian seasoning, this comforting meal is ready in under 40 minutes and serves four.
Ingredients
Pasta
- 12 ounce Farfalle pasta (bow tie or similar sized pasta)
- Water (for cooking pasta)
- 1 teaspoon Salt (for pasta water)
Meat and Vegetables
- 1 pound ground beef
- ½ cup onion, chopped
- 1 bell pepper, chopped
- 8 ounce frozen spinach
Sauce and Seasoning
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoon butter
- 6 ounce can tomato paste
- 2 tablespoon Italian Seasoning
- ¼ cup Ricotta cheese
- ¼ cup Greek yogurt
- ⅓ cup Parmesan cheese (plus more for serving)
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
- 1 ½ cup reserved pasta water
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot or Dutch oven of salted water to a boil. Cook the farfalle pasta according to the package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 ½ cups of the pasta cooking water before draining the pasta.
- Brown Ground Beef: While the water heats, heat olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned and cooked through, about 4-6 minutes. Transfer the beef to a paper towel-lined plate, leaving as much fat in the pan as possible.
- Sauté Vegetables and Spinach: In the same pan with the reserved beef fat, add chopped onion, bell pepper, and frozen spinach. Cook over medium-high heat until the onion and bell pepper are tender and the spinach is thawed and bright green, approximately 5-7 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Prepare Sauce: In the pot or Dutch oven used for the pasta, heat 1 tablespoon of butter over medium heat. Add tomato paste and Italian seasoning, cooking until the tomato paste darkens in color, about 1-2 minutes. Stir in ricotta cheese, Greek yogurt, Parmesan cheese, ½ cup of the reserved pasta water, and season with salt and pepper. Mix thoroughly and reduce heat to low.
- Combine Pasta, Meat, and Sauce: Stir in the browned ground beef, sautéed vegetable and spinach mixture, remaining butter, ¼ cup reserved pasta water, and the drained pasta into the sauce. Mix well until combined. If the sauce seems dry, gradually add the remaining reserved pasta water until the desired consistency is reached.
Notes
- Reserve some pasta water to adjust sauce consistency for a creamier texture.
- Use fresh spinach instead of frozen for a different texture, adjusting cooking time accordingly.
- Garnish with additional Parmesan cheese for extra flavor before serving.
- For a vegetarian version, replace ground beef with plant-based protein or mushrooms.
- Ensure pasta is cooked al dente to maintain a slight bite and hold the sauce well.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
