Ingredients
Vegetables
- 1 cup diced white or yellow onion
- 1 cup diced zucchini
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 cup chopped mushrooms
- ¼ cup chopped fresh basil
Meat
- 1 pound 90% to 93% lean ground beef
Liquids and Sauces
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 15 ounce can fire-roasted diced tomatoes
- 8 ounce can tomato sauce
- 1 cup low-sodium beef broth
Dry Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 2½ cups dry pasta (such as fusilli or penne, about 8 ounces)
Cheeses
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ⅓ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Sauté Vegetables and Cook Beef: Heat the olive oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion, zucchini, and minced garlic. Sauté for a few minutes until the onion softens and zucchini is fork tender. Add the ground beef, breaking it up with a spoon, and cook until fully browned.
- Simmer Ingredients Together: Drain excess grease from the skillet and return it to the heat. Season the beef with Italian seasoning, salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Add fire-roasted diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef broth, chopped mushrooms, and the dry pasta. Stir everything to combine, bring to a boil, then cover the skillet and reduce the heat to low. Let it simmer gently for about 15 minutes until the pasta is cooked al dente.
- Finish with Basil and Cheese: Stir in the chopped fresh basil. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella and Parmesan cheese evenly over the top. Cover the pan and cook on low just until the cheese melts. Alternatively, you can place the skillet under a broiler for 1-2 minutes until the cheese bubbles and melts.
Notes
- Use a skillet with a lid to ensure even cooking and prevent pasta from drying out.
- Choose pasta shapes like fusilli or penne that hold sauce well.
- Drain the ground beef well to avoid an overly greasy dish.
- Fresh basil adds a bright flavor; sub dried basil if unavailable, but add less.
- For a vegetarian option, substitute ground beef with plant-based meat or additional mushrooms.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
