One-Pan Mince Pasta

This cheesy mince pasta is my ultimate recipe for a busy day. I know you want comfort food on a Tuesday, but you don’t want a mountain of dishes afterwards! Honestly, if you’re looking for simple mince and pasta recipes that taste amazing and don’t require heavy cleanup, this is the one. Serve it with Crispy Smashed Broccoli with Parmesan for the easiest weeknight meal.

Why you’ll love this recipe

I love a recipe that promises the world and actually delivers, and mince pasta recipes always do. Here are a few reasons you’ll be adding this to your rotation:

• Flavourful: We build the flavour in stages, starting with nicely browned mince, then the punchy garlic, onion, and spices. Two types of cheese make it so velvety smooth and satisfying. It’s got that deep, buttery flavour I love, similar to my Easy Ragu Bianco!
• One-pan wonder: Everything happens in just one pan, meaning minimal scrubbing and less effort after a long day. If you’ve been searching for super quick pasta and mince recipes, this is the one!
• Versatile: This mince pasta is super flexible – you can easily swap out the beef mince or use gluten-free pasta if needed. It’s a great way to use up veggies in your fridge without making a whole new dish. For another dish you can easily adapt, check out these Healthy Noodle Bowls.

If you need a bit more heft for your meal, you could serve this pasta with Easy Sausage and Peppers (One Pan), Crispy Roasted Sweet Potato Wedges, or Easy Skillet Roasted Corn.

Ingredients

I think these few ingredients are the true stars that give this mince pasta its wonderful flavour and texture:

• Mince: I generally use around 500g of beef mince for this mince pasta recipe, usually 12% fat for the best flavour, but you can use lean beef, pork, or even lamb mince. This is one of my go-to one pot mince pasta dishes. You can also use plant-based mince here for a great vegetarian option! I always use mince in my classic Slow Cooker Chilli Con Carne too.
• Broccoli: I actually use the whole broccoli here, stalks and florets, which is just brilliant for reducing waste and bulking up the dish in a healthy way. The stalks go in early to soften, and the little florets go in halfway through the pasta cook to stay a beautiful green.
• American cheese slices: American cheese melts so incredibly well, making the sauce super creamy and luscious. If you don’t fancy it, swap it for a mix of cream cheese and a decent sharp cheddar for a similar melty effect.

See the recipe card for full information on all ingredients and quantities.

Variations/ Adaptations

I always encourage people to tinker with a recipe! Try these tasty mince pasta variations to make this recipe perfectly yours:

• Veggie/plant-based: This is easy to make meat-free! Swap the beef for plant-based mince, then add extra veg like zucchini or spinach for bulk. This works great for pasta and mince, and also works for my Easy Beef and Broccoli Recipe.
• Spicy Tex-Mex style: For a punchier flavour, throw in some cumin and chilli powder with the red pepper flakes. You can also mix in a handful of black beans and corn, topping it with cheddar cheese instead of American slices.
• Mediterranean: Use lamb mince instead of beef and add a handful of chopped olives and spinach with the florets. Finish the mince and pasta with a sprinkle of salty, crumbled feta cheese instead of the Parmesan.

How to make Easy One-Pan Mince Pasta

Step 1: Preheat your grill to 200°C/400°F and place a cast-iron or stainless steel pan on the stove. Prep your broccoli.

Step 2: Add olive oil and beef mince to the pan, season with salt and pepper, and fry on high heat for about 5 minutes. Remove the beef, leaving the oil in the pan.

Step 3: Reduce to medium heat, add onion, broccoli stalks, and garlic. Season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Cook for about 5 minutes, adding the tomato purée halfway through.

Step 4: Pour in the chicken stock, pasta, and the browned beef. Cook for about 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the broccoli florets halfway through.

Step 5: Stir in 2 slices of cheese until melted, then tear the remaining cheese on top and sprinkle over the parmesan.

Step 6: Put the pan under the preheated grill for about 8 minutes, until the top is golden and bubbly. Finish with basil and extra red pepper flakes.

If you have leftover mince, consider making Easy Burger Bowls, One-Pan Cajun Dirty Rice Recipe (Ready in 30 Minutes!), or Beef Keema (Mince Curry).

Serving Suggestions

Honestly, mince pasta is a meal in itself. You really don’t need much more than this mince pasta bake for dinner, but adding a side of fresh greens for some extra plants, or even a bit of dipping bread, is always a lovely touch!

Try it with:

• Halloumi Caesar Salad
• Panzanella Salad with Halloumi
• Simple Tricolore Salad
• Budget Green Goddess Salad (Viral Tiktok Recipe)
• Sauteed Broccoli

Leftover Storage and Reheat Instructions

Refrigerator: Let the mince pasta cool all the way down before you put it into an airtight container. It’ll be perfect for lunch for up to 3 days.

Freezer: Because of all the dairy and the pasta, I don’t usually freeze this mince dish. The texture can get a little bit grainy or mushy when it thaws. Better to enjoy it fresh!

Reheat: For a single portion, the microwave works fine until it’s piping hot. If you have a larger amount, put it in an oven dish and warm it up in a 180°C/350°F oven until the cheese is bubbly and delicious again.

Recipe FAQs

Need something sweet for after? Try Easy Nutella Puff Pastry (just 4 Ingredients!), Chocolate Protein Muffins (Fudgy & High Protein), or Delicious Vanilla Sponge Cake.