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Home » Main Course » Pasta for a Crowd

Published: Apr 3, 2016 · Modified: Sep 22, 2020 by Lisa Johnson

Pasta for a Crowd

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Pasta for a Crowd | cookingwithcurls.com

Whether you have a large family, or teenage boys with lots of friends, this Pasta for a Crowd is a life saver! It is super simple to prepare, and feeds a small army, lol If you have Classic Marinara Sauce in the refrigerator, or a jar of your favorite sauce from the grocery store, you can have dinner on the table in under 30 minutes!!

This hearty and delicious Pasta for a Crowd will become a family favorite, and the perfect weeknight meal when life gets crazy | cookingwithcurls.com

This Pasta for a Crowd also works really well if you live alone and don't feel like cooking for a week....just sayin' 😉

I'm actually surprised that this meal has not been posted before now, it has been a staple in our house for YEARS!! Alex even made it when his friends came over {3 years ago when he stilled lived at home}

Alex cooking dinner | cookingwithcurls.com

How to make Pasta for a Crowd:

We start with my favorite Italian Seasoned Ground Beef.

Heat oil over Medium heat in a large skillet. Add the onion and cook until softened, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for one additional minute.

Add the ground beef and Italian sausage. Chop meat into small pieces and cook until no longer pink. Add the Italian parsley, stir to combine.....

Penne for a Crowd meat cookingwithcurls.com

That was simple enough. Now add your Classic Marinara Sauce {or your favorite jarred sauce}.....

Penne for a Crowd sauce cookingwithcurls.com

You just need to heat it through while waiting for the pasta to be done. 😉 I use a spider strainer to scoop the cooked pasta out of the water and dump it right into the skillet, that way you still have the "pasta water" if your sauce is too thick.

Toss to combine.....

Penne for a Crowd pasta cookingwithcurls.com

If you would like to add Mozzarella chunks {or those tiny little balls} toss them in now. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and serve.....

Pasta for a Crowd | cookingwithcurls.com

Yep, I serve it right out of the skillet...just remember to turn the burner off!

Notes:

  • This Pasta for a Crowd works with any pasta, but I personally prefer Rotini or Penne. It's thicker and holds up well with the thick, meaty sauce.
  • If your friends or family are gluten-free, just use gluten-free pasta and everyone is happy.
  • Get creative and add your favorite ingredients; bell peppers, kale, or olives....like Alex.....

Alex cooking dinner | cookingwithcurls.com

These Garlic Dinner Rolls are perfect to serve with your Pasta for a Crowd.....

Garlic Knots fresh out of the oven and sprinkled with Parmesan cheese | cookingwithcurls.com

add a Dinner Salad and you have a complete meal.....

Dinner Salad with Crunchy Garlic Croutons | cookingwithcurls.com

More delicious pasta recipes:

  • Double Shrimp Pasta
  • Chicken Enchilada Pasta
  • Instant Pot Spaghetti
  • Antipasto Salad
  • Linguine alla Carbonara

Enjoy!!

Pasta for a Crowd | cookingwithcurls.com

Pasta for a Crowd

Do you have a big family, or teenage boys to feed This Pasta for a Crowd is a hearty meal that goes a long way!
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Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: pasta, sauce, sausage, beef, parmesan, cheese, recipe
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 8 Servings
Calories: 486kcal
Author: Lisa Johnson

Ingredients

  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 3/4 cups chopped yellow onion
  • 2 large cloves garlic minced
  • 1 pound ground beef grass-fed 😉
  • 3/4 pound Italian sausage I use mild or sweet
  • 1/4 cup chopped Italian parsley
  • 3 cups Classic Marinara Sauce substitute a 25 ounce jar of your favorite sauce
  • 1 pound cooked pasta drained (rotini or penne work best)
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 cup Mozzarella chunks optional

Instructions

  • Heat oil over Medium heat in a large skillet.
  • Add the onion and cook until softened, about 4 minutes.
  • Add the garlic and cook for one additional minute.
  • Add the ground beef and Italian sausage. Chop meat into small pieces and cook until no longer pink.
  • Add the Italian parsley, stir to combine.
  • Add your Classic Marinara Sauce {or your favorite jarred sauce}. You just need to heat it through while waiting for the pasta to be done.
  • Drain the pasta and add it to the skillet and toss to combine.
  • If you would like to add Mozzarella chunks {or those tiny little balls} toss them in now.
  • Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and serve.

Notes

  • Classic Marinara Sauce
  • This Pasta for a Crowd works with any pasta, but I personally prefer Rotini or Penne. It’s thicker and holds up well with the thick, meaty sauce.
  • If your friends or family are gluten-free, just use gluten-free pasta and everyone is happy.
  • Get creative and add your favorite ingredients; bell peppers, kale, or olives

Nutrition

Calories: 486kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 79mg | Sodium: 889mg | Potassium: 622mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 585IU | Vitamin C: 11.1mg | Calcium: 120mg | Iron: 3.4mg
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Tina Butler says

    April 10, 2016 at 6:21 am

    Yum!!! I can't wit to make this. I love easy pasta recipe like this.

    Reply
  2. Sarah says

    April 12, 2016 at 12:07 pm

    Delicious! 😀

    Reply
  3. Melanie at Dish Dish says

    April 14, 2016 at 12:31 pm

    Looks like it would make a great dish for a potluck dinner, too. Easy and delish!

    Reply
  4. Amy @ Ms. Toody Goo Shoes says

    April 14, 2016 at 6:15 pm

    Lisa, this looks soooo good! I bet it smells great when it's cooking. Pinning!

    Reply
  5. Martie says

    April 14, 2016 at 6:29 pm

    This looks really good! I need to get me a spider strainer! Lol! You know it's a family staple when your kids cook it! 🙂 Thanks for sharing, I'm going to try this!

    Reply

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Hi, I'm Lisa - Welcome to my kitchen! I have a passion for good food and love sharing my creations with friends, family and everyone that loves a homecooked meal. This is where I share my favorite recipes with step-by-step instructions as well as tips and tricks to help you make these delicious recipes in your home.

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