By Grocery List Plus Editorial Staff | Published on October 3, 2026
Serves 6
698 cal · 30 min
Skillet Pasta and Beef Dinner
Recipe GLPR5c021f89672bbb
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Average rating: 4.5 (1)
A quick and hearty one-skillet meal combining seasoned ground beef, whole wheat rotini pasta, and a rich marinara sauce, finished with melted mozzarella cheese. Ready in just 30 minutes, this satisfying Italian-inspired dinner serves 6.
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Ingredients
1½ lb Lean ground beef
26 oz Marinara pasta sauce
3 cup Water
12 oz Uncooked whole wheat rotini pasta
1 cup Shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
Directions
Heat a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it apart with a spoon, until browned throughout with no pink remaining (internal temperature 160°F), about 8–10 minutes. Drain off any excess fat.
Stir in the marinara sauce and water, mixing until well combined. Increase heat to high and bring the mixture to a rolling boil.
Add the uncooked rotini pasta and stir to distribute evenly. Return the mixture to a boil.
Reduce heat to medium, cover the skillet, and simmer for about 14 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, until the pasta is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed.
Remove the skillet from heat. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top, cover with the lid, and let stand undisturbed for 5 minutes until the cheese is completely melted.
Stir gently to combine the melted cheese throughout, and serve hot.
Comments
This is an honest weeknight winner: all ingredients are staples at every Charlotte chain, total cost hovers around $2 per serving if you use ground beef on sale and a standard jarred marinara. The stated 30 minutes is real if you start the meat while the water comes to boil, though you'll want to brown the beef thoroughly first to avoid a watery pan. It reheats well, feeds a family without fussiness, and asks nothing exotic—but pasta dishes like this one work best eaten fresh, and the cheese layer can turn gluey by the next day unless you store it carefully.
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