This simple ground beef asparagus pasta recipe with parmesan is a great warm or cold dish when it’s hot outside! Hearty with ground beef and vegetables mixed in with your favorite noodles. Fresh is best but this is how to cook frozen asparagus so you can make it year round.
This asparagus pasta recipe is a great side dish or main one pot meal. Using protein packed ground beef, cheese, vegetables and noodles it’s something even my kids love. Sponsored by Idaho Beef Council. (affiliate links present)
Asparagus Pasta Salad
I always like to add meat and protein to every meal. Which means we make a lot of recipes using ground beef around here. Instead of cooking all of my items separately, I can save a bit of time and still get a homemade meal we love. My busy schedule definitely thanks me AND this is a great choice when you have company over too!
If you are like me, find a great sale and load up this weekend, you may need a few easy ground beef recipes to make. Yes this state is known for it’s potatoes, but they produce some amazing Idaho beef on the farms around here too so we buy half a cow each year……so like yeah we have a lot…..
Pasta and Ground Beef Recipe
You can brown the protein in a pan or start with air fryer ground beef which will drain away the grease which is handy. The noodles are cooked separately. You can choose to keep them warm once drained or spray cold water on them for a cold pasta salad choice.
Ingredients
- Lean ground beef is needed for this one
- Pasta of your choice, smaller sizes are best
- Fresh asparagus is best for sure
- Olive oil is better than vegetable for flavor
- Shallots diced are nice
- Garlic minced we love
- Parmesan cheese or dairy free option is fine
- Seasonings of your choice
Can you use frozen ground beef to make pasta salad?
In the event that you don’t have time to thaw your meat ahead of time we show you here how to defrost and cook Instant Pot frozen ground beef to start. It is quick and nobody will know the difference when it is done.
Of course we use other cuts and have made things like beef and noodles Instant Pot style often. Our slow cooker beef tips are pretty amazing over mashed potatoes too.
What can ground beef be used for?
If you love quick and easy casseroles there are many options in that category. Mixed with a creamy sauce, vegetables and either rice or noodles you can create all sorts of one pot meals that are kid friendly and inexpensive to boot.
We love any and all of our Instant Pot ground beef recipes too because it’s a throw it all in and go type of meal for busy families.
And let’s talk about cost also shall we. If you’re on a budget, this type of beef is just the way to go. You get all the protein you’d want in easy bite size pieces which will make the kiddos happy too. We love cheap recipes too y’all.
Can I cook pasta and ground beef in one pot?
I mean yes and no. You need to boil noodles to get them tender or at least al dente. Boiling meat is possible but doesn’t taste great. Submerging meat in hot water dries it out and sucks all the great flavor right out of it. It’s better to brown proteins in a skillet and cook noodles separate, then combine.
Ideally you want short pasta shapes with plenty of nooks and crannies like small shells, fusilli, farfalle, rotini, or penne. This will trap more flavor for every bite.
Yes. If you don’t want it to remain warm you want to drain in a colander and then run cold water over it for a few minutes. This will stop the cooking process and bring the temp. down quickly.
Ideally I like making it in the morning, putting plastic wrap over the bowl and into the fridge it goes. This will make it nice and cold without risking soggy noodles if you make it a day before your event.
How do I cook asparagus for pasta salad?
There are several methods. In an oven at 425 degrees F you’ll want to coat with olive oil, salt and pepper and parmesan. Bake for about 12 minutes until tender. Here we boil once cut into large chunks. Or cook asparagus in the air fryer. If you love asparagus you’re going to love this pasta asparagus dish with beef.
Now veggies and noodles can be cooked together well. What you need to remember is how long your veggies will take because you don’t want them to get mushy. Many times you won’t add them until halfway thru the boiling process for the best results. Here’s a quick step by step but there’s a printable recipe card at the bottom of the post too.
How to Cook Pasta with Asparagus
Time needed: 10 minutes
Ground beef and pasta casserole
- Brown
In a large skillet over medium high heat brown your meat, add some red pepper flakes if you want heat. Sprinkle in black pepper, pinch of salt and any other seasonings. Pour into a bowl to cool.
- Saute
Add shallots and garlic into pan with a bit of the grease from the meat. Saute until softened. Turn heat off.
- Boil
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until it is al dente. After about 5 minutes add the asparagus pieces. Drain when noodles are mostly tender and veggies are too.
- Cool
Drain in a colander and pour cold water on top. Completely drain and add to a bowl. Add meat and sprinkle with at least 1/2 cup parmesan on top, or toss within.
When it’s asparagus season and you can grab a bunch at next to nothing, you’ve gotta’ try this! If you get a ton you can then bake some with just some olive oil and lemon zest on top in a few minutes.
For another layer of flavors, spoon some on a plate with a little squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Oh wowie!
How do you store unused ground beef?
If you find a great sale, I love to buy meat in bulk to save some money. The trick is to know how to store it and how long it will last right? Stored in airtight containers or storage bags refrigerated, at 40 °F it will stay good for 1 or 2 days.
Is it better to cook ground beef before freezing?
If you love batch cooking this is key to saving a lot of time! Store in marked bags with 1 pounds in each one. Then take out and set in the fridge to defrost overnight. Once thawed you can make a quick batch of spaghetti or tater tot casserole with ground beef.
Asparagus Pasta Salad
Equipment
- 1 pan
- 1 pot
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 12 oz noodles, measured uncooked
- 1 lb asparagus
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 shallots, diced
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 3/4 c parmesan cheese, shredded
Instructions
- In a large greased skillet, brown hamburger with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
- While beef is browning, cook pasta in boiling water for 10 minutes. Then add chopped asparagus to boiling water. Continue boiling until pasta and asparagus are tender.
- Drain well when done. When beef is thoroughly cooked, spoon it out of the skillet and drain off any excess grease. Add shallots and garlic to the same skillet and cook over medium heat until they become transparent.
- Add beef back into the skillet and mix well. Combine pasta, asparagus, and beef mixture in a large mixing bowl. Pour into a casserole baking dish. Top with parmesan cheese and enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
