Beefy One-Pot Rigatoni with Mozzarella

Beefy, saucy, cheesy, easy, one pot - that pretty much sums up this dish in 5 simple words. The sauce is vibrant, the beef is juicy, the cheese is gooey, and this one-skillet dinner makes it to the table in about 20 minutes. That pushes all my buttons, how about you?

It's no secret I adore one-pot meals. And it's not just because cleanup is easy; when everybody plays in the same sandbox, flavors develop and evolve together, creating a deeper more exciting dish. Take the rigatoni for example - the pasta absorbs all the flavor of the sauce as it cooks right in the same pan with everyone else - AND there's no pasta pot to clean. That's a double win.

About the mozzarella: I took a chunk of fresh mozzarella (about 4 ounces) and cut it into 2-inch pieces. The pieces weren't symmetrical or measured - I just cut the cheese, literally. I recommend fresh mozzarella for its meltability, but you can also use regular mozzarella. Or the little balls of mozzarella called bocconcini.

Beefy One-Pot Rigatoni with Mozzarella 

1/2 pound lean ground beef
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
Salt and ground black pepper
2 cups tomato sauce (from a carton or can)
2 cups beef broth
1 1/2 cups water, plus more if needed
1 pound rigatoni pasta
4 ounces fresh mozzarella, cut into 2-inch pieces
Fresh basil leaves, cut into thin strips

Brown the beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat, breaking up the meat as it cooks. If necessary, drain away any fat and return the beef to the skillet. Add the oregano, basil, onion powder, garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon and stir to coat. Add the tomato sauce, broth and 1 1/2 cups of the water and bring to a simmer. Add the rigatoni and return to a simmer. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes, until the rigatoni is tender, stirring frequently and adding more water if necessary to keep the mixture "saucy". If necessary, adjust/lower the heat as the pasta absorbs the liquid, so you can keep the sauce "just simmering".
Top the pasta and beef with the mozzarella and remove the pan from heat. Let stand for 1 to 2 minutes, until the cheese melts. Top with the basil and serve.

Serves 4