If you love comfort food that’s cheesy, saucy, and packed with flavor then you need this Honey BBQ Cheesy Beef Pasta in your life! I whipped this up on a chilly evening, and WOW, it totally hit the spot. The sweet and smoky BBQ flavor mixed with gooey cheese and fun pasta shapes is just chef’s kiss. Best part? It’s super simple to make, only uses one pan (plus a pot for pasta), and makes two big portions perfect for sharing or saving leftovers for later.
I used some everyday staples like minced beef, tomato puree, and BBQ seasoning, then brought everything together with a cheeky touch of honey and melted cheese. It’s got that slightly sweet, smoky, tangy bite that makes every forkful feel like a treat. Ready to dig in?
Method
1. Cooking the Onion Base
Start by spraying a large frying pan with olive oil and placing it over medium heat. Once the pan is warm, add your finely chopped half onion along with a tablespoon of balsamic vinegar. This step is all about building a rich flavor base, so don’t rush it let the onion slowly cook down for about 10 minutes. Stir occasionally to keep it from sticking or burning. The balsamic vinegar helps the onion caramelize slightly, adding a sweet and tangy depth that will carry through the whole dish.
2. Browning the Beef
Once your onion is soft and slightly golden, add the 5% fat beef mince directly into the pan. Break it apart with your spoon or spatula as it cooks. Let it brown evenly, stirring occasionally, until it’s fully cooked through. The juices from the beef will mix with the onion and balsamic base, creating a savory combo that already smells amazing.
3. Boiling the Pasta
While the beef is browning, fill a separate saucepan with water and bring it to a boil. Add a generous pinch of salt, then drop in your pasta about 200g of any fun-shaped variety. Cook it just under al dente, which means stopping about 2 minutes before the packet suggests. This is key because the pasta will continue to cook in the sauce later, soaking up all those delicious flavors.
4. Building the Sauce
With the beef cooked, it’s time to build the saucy magic. Stir in 1 tablespoon of tomato purée and mix it well with the meat. Then add 1 tablespoon of BBQ seasoning, 140g of tinned tomatoes or passata, a teaspoon each of Worcestershire sauce and soy sauce, half a tablespoon of honey, and a pinch of salt. This mix of ingredients brings together sweet, tangy, salty, and smoky flavors into one rich sauce. Stir it all together until it’s fully combined and smooth.
5. Adding Pasta Water & Simmering
Before draining the pasta, scoop out a ladle of the starchy pasta water and pour it into the beef sauce. This step helps loosen the sauce and allows it to cling better to the pasta. Let the sauce simmer gently for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. It should reduce slightly and become thicker as it cooks.
6. Combining Pasta and Cheese
Once your pasta is drained, add it straight into the simmering sauce. Stir everything together so each piece of pasta is coated. Now sprinkle in half of your cheese (30g of a mozzarella and cheddar mix) and stir again. The cheese will start melting and create a deliciously creamy coating on the pasta.
7. Final Cheese Melt
Sprinkle the remaining 30g of cheese over the top but don’t stir it in. Instead, cover the pan with a lid and keep it on low heat for 1 to 2 minutes. This helps the cheese melt into a gooey, stretchy layer on top just like a baked pasta without needing the oven.
8. Finishing Touches
Once the cheese is melted and everything is hot and bubbly, it’s time to garnish. Drizzle a little BBQ sauce over the top, sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley, and finish it off with a handful of crispy onions for that crunch. And that’s it your Honey BBQ Cheesy Beef Pasta is ready to serve!
Necessary Tools
- Large frying pan
- Saucepan (for boiling pasta)
- Chopping board & knife
- Grater (for cheese if not pre-grated)
- Spoon or spatula
- Measuring spoons
- Ladle
Honey BBQ Cheesy Beef Pasta (Simple, Saucy, and Seriously Good!)
Cuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy2
servings10
minutes20
minutes30
minutesIngredients
Spray olive oil
½ brown onion, finely chopped
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
210g 5% fat beef mince
1 tbsp BBQ seasoning (I used @schwartz.uk)
Salt, to taste
1 tbsp tomato purée
140g tinned tomatoes or passata
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp soy sauce
½ tbsp honey
200g pasta (I used a fun shape from @aldiuk)
60g grated cheese (mozzarella & cheddar mix)
Directions
- Spray a pan with olive oil and heat over medium.
- Toss in the chopped onion and balsamic vinegar. Cook for around 10 minutes until soft and sweet.
- Add the beef mince to the onion. Cook until it’s browned and fully cooked.
- Meanwhile, bring a pot of water to a boil and cook the pasta until just under al dente about 2 minutes less than the package says.
- Stir in the tomato purée, BBQ seasoning, tinned tomatoes/passata, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, honey, and a pinch of salt to the beef.
- Add a ladle of pasta water to loosen the sauce and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Drain the pasta and mix it into the beef sauce. Stir in half the cheese and let everything combine.
- Sprinkle the rest of the cheese on top. Cover the pan and let it sit over low heat for 1–2 minutes until the cheese is gooey.
- Drizzle BBQ sauce on top and finish with chopped parsley and crispy onions. Done!
Notes
- Don’t skip, softening the onion for 10 minutes may feel long, but it adds a sweet, rich flavor.
- Make sure your pasta is just undercooked before adding it to the sauce; it’ll finish cooking in the pan.
- Simmer the sauce long enough to bring out the tangy BBQ flavor before combining it with the pasta.
- Don’t rush the final cheese melt covering the pan helps it get nice and gooey without burning the bottom.
Serving Suggestions
I love serving this with garlic bread or a side salad for crunch. You can even pop a few pickles or jalapeños on top if you want a kick. It’s also great with steamed green beans or corn for a bit of veg on the side.
Fun Fact
Did you know adding a splash of pasta water to your sauce helps it stick better to the noodles? The starch from the pasta water makes everything hug together. Pasta magic!
Conclusion
This Honey BBQ Cheesy Beef Pasta is an easy win when you want something cozy, quick, and downright tasty. It’s full of bold flavor, cheesy goodness, and just the right amount of sweetness. Whether you’re feeding the family or just treating yourself, this one’s going in the favorites folder trust me!
