Description
A vibrant, slightly spicy pasta dish featuring seasoned ground beef, tender pasta, and a sweet-heat honey chili sauce—all cooked in one skillet for easy cleanup! This 30-minute meal delivers bold flavors with minimal effort.
Ingredients
- 1 lb Ground Beef (I recommend using 85/15 for flavor, but leaner options work too)
- 1/2 cup Red Onion, chopped (adds a sweetness that complements the beef)
- 3 cloves Garlic, minced (the more, the merrier for flavor!)
- 1/4 cup Soy Sauce (I love low-sodium for better control over salt levels)
- 1/4 cup Honey (choose a quality raw honey for richer flavor)
- 1 tablespoon Chili Paste or Chili Sauce (adjust heat levels based on your spice tolerance)
- 1 teaspoon Ground Cumin (this adds warmth and earthiness)
- 1 teaspoon Paprika (smoked paprika elevates the flavor)
- 1 teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes (optional, use for extra kick)
- 1/2 cup Beef Broth (homemade if you have it, but store-bought works fine)
- 12 oz Pasta (penne, rigatoni, or spaghetti work wonderfully)
- 2 tablespoons Olive Oil (choose a high-quality extra virgin for added flavor)
- Salt and Pepper, to taste (freshly ground makes a difference)
- Fresh Cilantro for garnish (adds a fresh pop, don’t skip this!)
- Lime wedges for serving (the zesty brightness works wonders!)
Instructions
Cook Pasta: Boil pasta until al dente (reserve ½ cup pasta water). Drain and set aside.,Brown Beef: Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high. Cook beef with onion until browned (5-6 mins). Drain excess fat.,Sauté Veggies: Add bell pepper and garlic. Cook 2-3 mins until softened.,Make Sauce: Whisk together all sauce ingredients except cream. Pour into skillet, scraping up browned bits. Simmer 2 mins.,Combine: Stir in cooked pasta and cream. Toss to coat, adding reserved pasta water as needed for sauciness.,Finish: Remove from heat. Garnish with cilantro, green onions, queso fresco, and lime wedges.
Notes
Heat Control: Reduce sriracha to 1 tsp for milder version,Protein Swap: Ground turkey or chicken works well,Vegetable Add: Stir in spinach at the end,Make Ahead: Sauce can be prepared 2 days in advance,Shortcut: Use pre-chopped veggies from salad bar
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Category: Main Course
- Method: One-Skillet
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex Fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 580 kcal
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: undefined
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 95mg