Posted by Recently I’ve discovered skillet meals and I’m seriously hooked! Comfort food with fresh ingredients made in one pan means less time doing dishes and more time to relax!
Ingredients get pretty slim around here at the end of the week which means I have to get creative! Last week, after surveying what we had on hand (frozen hamburger, onion, zucchini, pasta, spaghetti sauce and cream cheese) the wheels in my head started churning and Creamy Italian Pasta Skillet was the result.
If you don’t have hamburger, use ground turkey or chicken breast. If you prefer vegetarian, omit the meat and add beans and extra veggies. Whatever you do, don’t leave out the cream cheese, which makes this dish extra creamy and delicious!
What’s at the root of this food? A fresh, simple and delicious pasta dish, cooked in one pan, that will satisfy even the hungriest crowd!
Creamy Italian Pasta Skillet
- ½ medium onion
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 large zucchini
- 1 T olive oil
- ½ pound ground hamburger or turkey
- 1 tsp each garlic granules, onion powder and oregano
- ½ tsp each salt and pepper
- 1 T sugar (optional)
- 1 can chicken broth
- 1 ¾ cups spaghetti sauce or 1 14.5 oz can tomato sauce
- 8 ounces egg noodles
- ½ block cream cheese
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese
Peel and chop onion and garlic; rinse and slice zucchini into ¼ rounds and set aside.
Heat olive oil in skilled on medium/high heat; add onion and garlic and sauté for 2 minutes. Add ground meat; combine; cook/crumble until meat is no longer pink. Add spices, chicken broth and spaghetti sauce; stir to combine. Add zucchini and pasta; stir to combine.
Reduce heat, cover pan and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally until pasta and zucchini are tender. Stir in cream cheese until melted; top with parmesan cheese. Adjust spices and serve with a fresh salad and garlic bread!
Root Notes
- Chicken would also be great in this recipe. Use 2 cups pre-cooked or cut 2 chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces; sauté with onion and garlic in olive oil for 3-5 minutes, then add other ingredients according to recipe.
- You can use any kind of veggie but limit to 2 cups to ensure everything cooks evenly. Unless you omit the meat, then 3 or 4 cups of veggies should be fine.
- Sugar is optional for those who are sensitive to acidity in spaghetti or tomato sauce.
- I like to use jarred spaghetti sauce to save time but you could also use tomato sauce and just add more seasoning. I also try to choose brands with fresh ingredients and no unhealthy additives.
- I like egg noodles but you can choose any kind of short pasta for this dish.
- If the liquid evaporates before the pasta and zucchini are soft, stir in another ½ cup of chicken broth or water and continue to cook.
- Cream cheese is also optional but if I were you, I would definitely add it for extreme creaminess!
- Fresh basil would be great in the sauce and sprinkled on top.
Family ~ Food ~ Roots 