Alright, listen up, y’all. Today, we’re gonna talk about cookin’ up some ground beef pasta, but here’s the kicker – no tomatoes! Yep, you heard that right. No canned tomatoes, no tomato sauce, nothin’. My grandkids, they’re always complainin’, “Grandma, too much tomato!” So, I figured, fine, we’ll do it without. And let me tell ya, it’s still darn good.
First thing’s first, you gotta get yourself some good ground beef. Don’t go buyin’ that fancy stuff, just the regular kind will do. I like to get the one that’s got a little bit of fat in it, gives it more flavor, ya know? You need about a pound or so. Brown that beef up in a big ol’ pan. Don’t be shy with the heat, get it sizzlin’ good. And don’t forget to break it up real good, nobody wants big chunks of meat in their pasta.
Now, while that beef is cookin’, you gotta get your pasta water boilin’. Big pot, lots of water, and a good pinch of salt. Don’t be stingy with the salt, it makes all the difference. Any kind of pasta will work, but I like the short ones, like rotini or penne. They hold the sauce better, I think. Once the water’s boilin’, throw in your pasta and cook it ’til it’s done, but not too mushy. You want it a little bit firm, what they call “al dente” or somethin’ fancy like that.
- Get a pound of ground beef
- Boil water and cook pasta
- Make the sauce
Okay, here’s where it gets interestin’. Since we ain’t usin’ tomato sauce, we gotta get creative. I like to use beef broth. Yeah, that stuff you use for soup. Pour a good cup or two into that pan with the browned beef. Let it simmer for a bit, get all that good beef flavor into the broth. Then, I add some cream cheese. The block kind, not that whipped stuff. Cut it up into little pieces and stir it in until it melts all nice and smooth. Makes it real creamy, you see.
Now, for the flavor, we gotta get some spices in there. Salt, of course. And pepper, lots of pepper. I like to add some garlic powder, onion powder, and a little bit of paprika. You can throw in whatever you like, really. Sometimes, I add a little bit of dried oregano or basil, just to make it smell good. And if you have some fresh herbs from the garden, even better! Chop them up real fine and toss them in. It makes it all fancy.
You know, some folks, they like to put all sorts of things in their pasta. My neighbor, she puts in ketchup sometimes, when she’s in a hurry. I ain’t a fan, too sweet for me. But you could use a little bit of red pepper paste, if you like things spicy. Or maybe a spoonful of sour cream, if you want it tangier. It’s all up to you, really. That’s the beauty of cookin’, you can do whatever you want.
Once the sauce is all nice and thick, and the pasta is cooked, it’s time to put it all together. Drain the pasta and dump it right into the pan with the sauce. Stir it up real good, make sure every piece of pasta is coated in that creamy, beefy goodness. And that’s it! Dinner is served.
Now, my grandkids, they love this stuff. They call it “Grandma’s special pasta.” And let me tell you, it’s a whole lot better than that “Marry Me Pasta” they keep talkin’ about. Marry me, hah! They should be happy just to get a good meal on the table, that’s what I say. But seriously, this pasta is good. It’s easy to make, it’s filling, and it doesn’t have any of that tomato stuff that kids these days complain about. So, give it a try. You might just find yourself makin’ it every week.
And don’t forget, you can add all sorts of things to it. Sometimes, I throw in some cooked vegetables, like peas or carrots. Or if I have some leftover chicken, I’ll chop it up and add it to the mix. It’s a great way to use up leftovers. You can also add a big dollop of plain yogurt if you like it even more creamy, it is all up to you, really. Just use your imagination and have fun with it. That’s what cookin’ is all about.
So, there you have it. Ground beef pasta, no tomatoes, and a whole lot of flavor. It ain’t fancy, but it’s good home cookin’. And that’s all that matters, right? Now, go on and make yourself some dinner. And don’t forget to tell your friends about Grandma’s special pasta. They’ll thank you for it.
Tags: ground beef recipes, pasta recipes, no tomato sauce, easy dinner, quick meals, beef pasta, creamy pasta, family dinner, weeknight meals, kid-friendly recipes
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