Spicy Pasta With Ground Beef and Tomatoes

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
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Updated on 11/30/21
Macaroni with ground beef and spicy tomatoes

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 23 mins
Total: 38 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
466 Calories
21g Fat
33g Carbs
37g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 466
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 21g 27%
Saturated Fat 8g 38%
Cholesterol 101mg 34%
Sodium 695mg 30%
Total Carbohydrate 33g 12%
Dietary Fiber 4g 16%
Total Sugars 7g
Protein 37g
Vitamin C 31mg 155%
Calcium 107mg 8%
Iron 6mg 31%
Potassium 1038mg 22%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

This easy, comforting dish of pasta and ground beef gets its great flavor from lots of garlic, spicy seasonings, and tomatoes. Make the dish with elbow macaroni, mini penne pasta, small shells, or another pasta similar in size.

This dish is similar to American chop suey, which is a family favorite comfort food for many. The spicy tomatoes and seasonings add an extra burst of bold flavor. The recipe is adaptable as well. For Italian flavors, replace the Cajun or Mexican seasoning with Italian seasonings and use Italian seasoned tomatoes in the dish. Or, if you prefer a milder flavor, use your favorite seasoned salt blend along with plain diced tomatoes.

Serve the pasta and ground beef mixture on plates or in bowls with pepper jack cheese biscuits or crusty bread. Round the meal out nicely with a simple side salad.

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces elbow macaroni, mini penne, or cavatappi

  • Kosher salt

  • 1 pound ground beef, 85/15 or 90/10

  • 1 onion, chopped (about 1 cup)

  • 3 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1/4 cup diced green bell pepper

  • 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced chili-style tomatoes, or tomatoes with green chiles

  • 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons Mexican-style taco seasoning, or Cajun seasoning blend

  • 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano

  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 3 tablespoons tomato paste

  • 2 tablespoons water

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for spicy pasta and ground beef.
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

  2. Cook the pasta in boiling salted water following package directions. Drain well and set aside.

    Drain the macaroni.
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

  3. Put the ground beef and onion in a skillet over medium heat. Cook, stirring and breaking up the beef until the ground beef is browned and is no longer pink. Add the garlic and bell pepper to the beef and onions; cook, stirring, until the bell pepper is just tender. Drain and discard any excess accumulated fat.

    Brown the ground beef in a large deep skillet or Dutch oven.
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

  4. Add both kinds of diced tomatoes along with the Mexican or Cajun seasoning, oregano, pepper, tomato paste, and water. Bring the beef and tomato mixture to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes. Taste and add kosher salt, as needed.

    Add the tomatoes and seasonings to the ground beef.
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

  5. Add the hot drained pasta to the ground beef and tomato mixture; stir to blend the ingredients.

    Combine the macaroni, tomatoes, and ground beef mixture.
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

  6. Transfer the macaroni and beef mixture to a serving bowl or serve from the cooking pot.

    Pasta with ground beef and tomatoes in a serving bowl.
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

  7. Enjoy the dish with a tossed salad and crusty bread.

Tips

  • Homemade Mexican-Style Seasoning: Combine 1 teaspoon of chili powder with 1/2 teaspoon of paprika, 1/2 teaspoon of ground cumin, and a dash each of onion powder, garlic powder, oregano, and cayenne pepper.
  • Homemade Cajun Seasoning: Combine 1 tablespoon of paprika with 1/2 teaspoon of onion powder, 1/2 teaspoon of oregano, 1/4 teaspoon thyme, 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder, 1/4 teaspoon of white pepper, 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper, and a dash of black pepper.

Recipe Variations

  • For some extra heat, add a minced jalapeño pepper to the ground beef along with the green bell pepper.
  • Add 4 to 8 ounces of sliced mushrooms to the pot with the ground beef and onions.
  • Make it a casserole: Transfer the mixture to a lightly greased 2 1/2- to 3-quart baking dish. Top the hot pasta mixture with about 1 cup of cheddar cheese or a Mexican blend of cheeses, along with a few tablespoons of sliced green onions, if desired. Bake in a 350 F oven for about 15 to 20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the casserole is bubbling around the edges.