Navy-Style Pasta with Ground Meat

There is nothing like a hearty, one-pan pasta dinner on a busy weeknight — this navy-style pasta with ground meat is comfort food at its simplest. Savory meat browned with onion and garlic, pasta nests simmered right in the pan with tomato paste, and a shower of grated cheese on top. If you are short on time, also try our pasta nests with meatballs, and for a creamy twist check out the creamy tomato chicken pasta.

Ingredients

• 300 g (10.5 oz) ground meat
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 3 tbsp tomato paste
• Nests pasta (tagliatelle nests)
• Warm water as needed
• 100 g (3.5 oz) cheese, grated
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• Oil for frying

Instructions

1. Brown the ground meat in oil for about 5 minutes, then add the onion and garlic; fry a couple more minutes. Season with salt, pepper, oregano, and basil.
2. Stir in the tomato paste, nestle the pasta nests into the pan, and pour in warm water to just cover. Simmer 10 minutes until the pasta is tender.
3. Serve sprinkled with grated cheese.

Tips

• Season the meat generously — salt, pepper, oregano, and basil make all the difference. For more one-pan inspiration, Serious Eats has excellent skillet pasta guides.
• Add the warm water a little at a time so the pasta simmers rather than boils; this keeps the sauce silky.
• Leftovers reheat beautifully — add a splash of water when warming and finish with extra grated cheese.

Nutrition — per 100 g: 295.4 kcal, protein 12.1 g, fat 14.5 g, carbs 27.9 g.