Beef and pasta form a versatile duo, adaptable to countless culinary traditions. This collection of 12 recipes showcases beef pasta dishes inspired by distinct styles from around the globe, each offering a fresh take on this classic pairing.
Whether you’re in the mood for something spicy, creamy, or herbaceous, these recipes deliver bold flavors and unique approaches. Explore these diverse styles and elevate your next meal with beef pasta like never before.
1. Italian Beef Ragu Pappardelle
Ingredients
- 1 pound beef chuck, cubed
- 12 ounces pappardelle pasta
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup red wine
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon rosemary
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
How to Make
Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat, add beef cubes, and brown for 6-8 minutes, then remove and set aside. In the same pot, sauté onion for 3-4 minutes until soft, add garlic for 1 minute, then stir in tomato paste, cooking for another minute.
Return beef to the pot, pour in crushed tomatoes and red wine, and add rosemary, salt, and pepper. Simmer on low for 2 hours until the beef is tender and the sauce thickens. Cook pappardelle in boiling salted water until al dente, drain, and toss with the ragu. Serve hot with a sprinkle of Parmesan if desired.
2. Mexican Beef Taco Spaghetti
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 12 ounces spaghetti
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- 1 cup salsa
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 cup shredded cheddar
- 1 teaspoon salt
How to Make
Cook spaghetti in boiling salted water until al dente, drain, and set aside. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat, add onion, and cook for 3-4 minutes until soft. Stir in ground beef, cooking until browned, about 5-7 minutes, then add taco seasoning, salsa, beef broth, and salt, simmering for 5 minutes.
Mix in cooked spaghetti, cook for 2-3 minutes to combine flavors, then stir in cheddar until melted. Serve hot, optionally topped with chopped cilantro or sour cream.
3. French Beef Bourguignon Penne
Ingredients
- 1 pound beef stew meat, cubed
- 8 ounces penne pasta
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 onion, sliced
- 2 cups mushrooms, quartered
- 1 cup red wine
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 tablespoon thyme
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
How to Make
In a large pot, melt butter over medium heat, add beef cubes, and brown for 6-8 minutes, then remove. In the same pot, sauté onion and mushrooms for 5-6 minutes until tender, then return beef, adding red wine, beef broth, thyme, salt, and pepper.
Simmer on low for 1.5 hours until the beef softens and the sauce reduces. Cook penne in boiling salted water until al dente, drain, and stir into the beef mixture. Cook for 2-3 minutes to meld flavors, then serve warm.
4. Thai Beef Basil Noodles
Ingredients
- 1 pound beef sirloin, thinly sliced
- 8 ounces rice noodles
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 red chili, sliced
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 cup fresh basil leaves
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
How to Make
Soak rice noodles in warm water for 20 minutes, drain, and set aside. In a wok, heat vegetable oil over high heat, add garlic and chili, and stir-fry for 30 seconds. Add beef slices, cooking for 3-4 minutes until browned, then stir in fish sauce, soy sauce, and sugar.
Toss in drained noodles and basil leaves, stir-frying for 2-3 minutes until the basil wilts and the noodles are coated. Season with black pepper and serve immediately.
5. Greek Beef Pastitsio
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 8 ounces ziti pasta
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 cup béchamel sauce
- 1 cup grated Parmesan
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
How to Make
Cook ziti in boiling salted water until al dente, drain, and reserve. In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat, add onion, and cook for 3-4 minutes until soft. Stir in ground beef, cooking until browned, about 5-7 minutes, then add tomato sauce, cinnamon, salt, and pepper, simmering for 10 minutes.
Layer half the ziti in a baking dish, spread the beef mixture over it, top with remaining ziti, and pour béchamel sauce evenly on top. Sprinkle with Parmesan and bake at 375°F for 25-30 minutes until golden. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.
6. Korean Beef Bulgogi Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 pound beef sirloin, thinly sliced
- 8 ounces spaghetti
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 onion, sliced
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
How to Make
Cook spaghetti in boiling salted water until al dente, drain, and set aside. In a bowl, mix soy sauce, sesame oil, sugar, and garlic, then marinate beef slices in it for 15 minutes.
In a skillet, heat vegetable oil over medium-high heat, add onion, and cook for 3-4 minutes until soft. Add marinated beef, cooking for 4-5 minutes until caramelized, then toss in spaghetti, stirring for 2-3 minutes to coat. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve hot.
7. Cajun Beef Jambalaya Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 8 ounces fettuccine
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 bell pepper, chopped
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
- 1 cup diced tomatoes
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 teaspoon salt
How to Make
In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat, add bell pepper and onion, and cook for 4-5 minutes until tender.
Stir in garlic and ground beef, cooking until browned, about 5-7 minutes, then add Cajun seasoning, diced tomatoes, beef broth, and salt, simmering for 10 minutes. Mix in cooked fettuccine, cook for 2-3 minutes to blend flavors, and serve warm.
8. Indian Beef Masala Macaroni
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 8 ounces elbow macaroni
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 tablespoon ginger, grated
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon garam masala
- 1 cup tomato puree
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- 1 teaspoon salt
How to Make
Cook macaroni in boiling salted water until al dente, drain, and set aside. In a skillet, heat vegetable oil over medium heat, add onion, and cook for 3-4 minutes until golden.
Stir in ginger, garlic, and ground beef, cooking until browned, about 5-7 minutes, then add garam masala, tomato puree, turmeric, and salt, simmering for 10 minutes. Mix in cooked macaroni, cook for 2-3 minutes to coat evenly, and serve hot.
9. American Beef Cheeseburger Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 8 ounces rotini pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1 tablespoon mustard
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 cup shredded cheddar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
How to Make
Cook rotini in boiling salted water until al dente, drain, and reserve. In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat, add onion, and cook for 3-4 minutes until soft.
Stir in ground beef, cooking until browned, about 5-7 minutes, then add ketchup, mustard, beef broth, salt, and pepper, simmering for 5 minutes. Mix in cooked rotini, cook for 2-3 minutes, then stir in cheddar until melted. Serve warm.
10. Japanese Beef Yakisoba
Ingredients
- 1 pound beef strips
- 8 ounces yakisoba noodles
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 onion, sliced
- 1 bell pepper, sliced
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
How to Make
Cook yakisoba noodles in boiling water for 2-3 minutes, drain, and set aside. In a wok, heat vegetable oil over high heat, add beef strips, and cook for 3-4 minutes until browned, then remove.
Add onion and bell pepper to the wok, stir-frying for 3-4 minutes until crisp-tender, then return beef and add soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, sugar, and pepper. Toss in noodles, stir-fry for 2-3 minutes to combine, and serve hot.
11. Middle Eastern Beef Kafta Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 8 ounces spaghetti
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon coriander
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon parsley, chopped
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
How to Make
Cook spaghetti in boiling salted water until al dente, drain, and reserve. In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat, add onion, and cook for 3-4 minutes until soft.
Stir in ground beef, cumin, and coriander, cooking until browned, about 5-7 minutes, then add tomato sauce, salt, and pepper, simmering for 10 minutes. Mix in cooked spaghetti, cook for 2-3 minutes to coat, then sprinkle with parsley and serve warm.
12. Hungarian Beef Goulash Noodles
Ingredients
- 1 pound beef stew meat, cubed
- 8 ounces egg noodles
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon caraway seeds
- 1 teaspoon salt
How to Make
In a pot, melt butter over medium heat, add beef cubes, and brown for 6-8 minutes, then remove. Sauté onion in the same pot for 3-4 minutes until soft, then return beef, adding paprika, beef broth, caraway seeds, and salt. Simmer on low for 1.5 hours until tender.
Cook egg noodles in boiling salted water until al dent, drain, and stir into the beef mixture with sour cream, cooking for 2-3 minutes until creamy. Serve hot.
Conclusion
These 12 recipes transform beef pasta into a global adventure, drawing from Italian, Mexican, Thai, and other styles. Each dish offers a unique flavor profile and cooking method, making them perfect for exploring diverse cuisines at home. Choose one and enjoy a deliciously different beef pasta experience.