Ground Pork Pasta

Name: Ground Pork Pasta
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 1 (16 ounce) package of rigatoni; 2 tablespoons butter; 1 yellow onion (diced); 4 garlic cloves (minced); 1 pound ground pork (or ground turkey, chicken, beef); 1/2 cup tomato paste; 1 teaspoon Calabrian chili peppers or red pepper flakes; 1 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon black pepper; 2/3 cup heavy cream or canned coconut milk; 1 cup reserved pasta water

This Ground Pork Pasta is the easiest and best weeknight meal! It's the perfect restaurant-style dinner you can quickly make at home for your family. All you need is 25 minutes and a few ingredients!

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Pasta with ground pork, basil and parmesan on a blue plate.

Excellent weeknight meal! Made it as written and we both loved it. - Laura

There's just something about a creamy pasta dish that is so good. And I love it, even more, when it's easy to make and takes minimal effort. If you like this, you will also enjoy my creamy sausage pasta and creamy garlic chicken pasta.

This ground pork pasta sauce is made with simple ingredients for a delicious spicy sauce that is served over big rigatoni noodles that soak it all up! Pasta will always be my favorite and this meal is one you will want to keep coming back to.

🌟Why You'll Love this Recipe

Easy recipe. This meal is a great option for busy nights when you need dinner on the table but don't have a ton of time to make it.
Family-friendly. You can easily adjust the heat of this pasta sauce by adding more or less spice depending on your family's preferences.
Minimal ingredients. The ingredient list for this recipe is very small, saving you time at the grocery store!

🥘Ingredients

Onion. I used a small yellow onion but white onion or shallot will also be good for this meat sauce.
Pork. I love the flavor ground pork adds to this sauce. I recommend lean ground pork. You can use a fattier version but you may have to drain off the excess fat.
Calabrian chili paste. I highly recommend using this if you can find it. It's spicy but adds lots of flavor to this pasta dish and can also be used on pizzas, sandwiches and bread. You can usually find it in the pasta aisle at most grocery stores or on Amazon.
Cream. I've used heavy cream and canned full-fat coconut milk in this recipe and both work great to make a creamy sauce. Use coconut milk if you prefer to make this dairy-free. I recommend Thai Kitchen or Whole Foods 365 brand as these don't leave a coconut flavor.

See the recipe card below for the remaining ingredients and quantities.

📖Substitutions & Variations

If you can't find Calabrian chili paste, use red pepper or chili flakes instead.
Use a different type of meat. You can also use ground turkey, ground chicken or ground beef. If you prefer to make this vegetarian, omit the meat altogether.
I prefer rigatoni with this recipe but you can also use penne, ziti or even farfalle.

🔪How to Make Ground Pork Pasta

Cook the pasta to al dente according to the directions on the package.

Step 1: You'll begin by melting butter in a large skillet. Once melted add the onion and cook until soft. Next, you'll add in the garlic and ground pork, if using. Cook until the meat has browned.

Ground pork, tomato paste and onion in a skillet.

Step 2: Then, add in the tomato paste, chili paste, salt and pepper. Cook until the tomato paste has browned slightly.

Ground pork being cooked with tomato pasta and heavy cream.

Step 3: Deglaze the pan with the cream or coconut milk and allow it to simmer for a few minutes.

Rigatoni pasta with ground pork in a pot.

Step 4: Add the pasta to the pan with some reserved pasta water and mix until creamy. Serve and top with parmesan cheese if desired!

💭Recipe FAQs

Can I use half-and-half or whole milk instead of heavy cream?

Yes, definitely. However, I recommend heavy cream or full-fat coconut milk because both of these will give you a creamier sauce.

Can I make this tomato sauce without meat?

Yes, you can make this vegetarian by omitting the pork or using plant-based alternatives such as mushrooms or tofu.

How can I adjust the level of creaminess of the sauce?

Use less heavy cream/coconut milk or substitute some with chicken broth or extra reserved pasta water if you want a thinner sauce. For a creamier sauce, allow it to simmer for longer until more of the liquid evaporates an don't add in any reserved pasta water.

👩🏻‍🍳Sarah's Top Tips

Use high-quality ingredients. I recommend butter from a farmers market or local or European-style butter, a quality pasta brand and fresh garlic cloves.
Don't overcook the pasta. Cook it just until al dente so it can finish cooking in the sauce.
Always taste the sauce before serving and adjust the flavors as needed before serving.

A plate of rigatoni topped with basil and cheese.

🥗Serving

Ground pork pasta is best served with a glass of red wine and a simple side salad. Serve the dressing from this cranberry quinoa salad on top of your favorite lettuce. I recommend shaved parmesan cheese, red pepper flakes and fresh parsley or basil sprinkled on top.

🥣Storage and Reheating

This dish can be stored in the fridge for 3-4 days in an airtight container.

When it's time to reheat, you can simply microwave it for 1-2 minutes. If you don't like using the microwave, you can reheat the pasta in a skillet for a few minutes until warm.

Check out some delicious ways to use leftover pork.