10/26/2026
Cheddar Beef Rigatoni Skillet 🧀🍝
Tender rigatoni, savory ground beef, and rich tomato sauce come together under a blanket of melted cheddar. An easy one-pan dinner made for generous servings.
Ingredients:
• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1 small onion, diced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 8 ounces uncooked rigatoni
• 1 can tomato sauce, 15 ounces
• 2½ cups low-sodium beef broth, plus more as needed
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• ½ teaspoon paprika
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• Salt, to taste
• 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, optional
Directions:
1. Heat a deep 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the ground beef and onion for 7–9 minutes, breaking the meat into crumbles, until browned and the onion is softened. Drain excess fat.
2. Stir in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
3. Add the tomato sauce, beef broth, Italian seasoning, paprika, and black pepper. Stir in the uncooked rigatoni.
4. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low and cover.
5. Simmer for 15–20 minutes, stirring every few minutes, until the pasta is tender. Add extra broth in ¼-cup splashes if the skillet becomes dry before the pasta finishes cooking.
6. Remove from the heat. Stir in 1 cup cheddar until melted, then taste and add salt as needed.
7. Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup cheddar over the top. Cover for 2–3 minutes, until melted.
8. Finish with optional parsley and serve warm.
Serves: 4
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: About 30 minutes
Tip: Shred cheddar from a block for a smoother melt.