Description

A comforting and flavorful one-pan dish featuring savory ground beef and pasta coated in a creamy, tangy yogurt sauce with warm Middle Eastern spices. Easy to make for a weeknight meal.

Ingredients

Scale

1 pound ground beef (80/20 or 85/15)
1 large onion, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground allspice (optional)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 tablespoon olive oil or vegetable oil
1 pound pasta (penne, rigatoni, or elbow macaroni)
4 cups water or low-sodium beef broth
1 ½ cups plain yogurt (full-fat or Greek yogurt)
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon cornstarch or all-purpose flour
¼ cup cold water
Fresh parsley or mint, chopped, for garnish (optional)
Toasted pine nuts or slivered almonds, for garnish (optional)

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Instructions

1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook until softened, 5-7 minutes.
2. Add ground beef and cook until browned, draining excess grease.
3. Stir in minced garlic, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, and allspice. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Add uncooked pasta to the skillet. Pour in 4 cups of water or broth. Bring to a boil.
5. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is cooked and liquid is mostly absorbed.
6. While pasta cooks, whisk together plain yogurt and lemon juice in a bowl until smooth.
7. In a small bowl, whisk cornstarch/flour with ¼ cup cold water to make a slurry.
8. Stir yogurt mixture into the skillet with pasta and beef over low heat. Cook, stirring, for 3-5 minutes until warmed. Do not boil vigorously.
9. Gradually stir in the cornstarch slurry until the sauce thickens. Cook for another 1-2 minutes.
10. Season with additional salt and pepper if needed. Remove from heat and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

Store cooled leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop with a splash of liquid, or in the microwave. Freezing is possible but may alter sauce texture.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: One-Pan
Cuisine: Middle Eastern-Inspired

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 550
Sugar: 5g
Sodium: 600mg
Fat: 25g
Carbohydrates: 50g
Fiber: 4g
Protein: 35g