Stove Top Pastitsio

Name: Stove Top Pastitsio
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: Greek
Ingredients: 1 pound lean ground sirloin; 1/4 cup diced onion; 2 cloves garlic minced; 4 tablespoons tomato paste; 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg; 1 teaspoon McCormick Greek seasoning; Salt, pepper; 1/2 cup heavy cream; 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt such as Chobani; 1 lb penne pasta; 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

July 18, 2013 by Tanya Schroeder · 61 Comments · Last updated: December 15, 2021

Beef

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This stove top Pastitsio is a simple and light version of the very traditional Greek pasta dish.

All the flavors of my traditional Pastitsio in a fraction of the time and with minimal effort!

This stovetop pastitsio recipe is a savory meal that the whole family will enjoy. Making my own quick, easy, and lighter version of the more traditional Greek recipe, the end results are just as fabulous. The meat sauce comes together quickly while the pasta is boiling. The egg-laden white sauce is omitted and replaced with a bit of heavy cream and plain Greek yogurt.

This fast meal is going to become your next go-to favorite. Made in a fraction of the time it tastes pretty close to an authentic Greek pastitsio recipe but without all of the added time and work. Go ahead and try it soon by serving a nice side dish of homemade Greek Salad or serve it up with some tasty freshly cooked Greek Green Beans. Adding in a little green with veggies will make your plates feel more complete.

What is Pastitsio?

This easy pastitsio recipe is a delicious Greek recipe that is assembled similarly to a lasagna in that it has meat, sauce, and noodle layers, but the differences are also quite vast. the cinnamon-infused meat is close to a Cincinnati chili in taste, there’s a white bechamel sauce and the overall taste is heavenly. Traditionally this meal takes hours of prep and is a very heavy meal. Our version, however, is much lighter, faster, and perfect for a quick stovetop meal so you don’t have to be on your feet for hours.

Ingredients

Lean ground sirloin
Diced onion
Minced garlic
Tomato paste
ground nutmeg
McCormick Greek seasoning
Salt
Pepper
Heavy cream
Plain Greek yogurt
Penne pasta
Grated Parmesan cheese

For the exact amounts needed, please see the recipe card below.

How to Make Stove Top Pastitsio

Prepare your pasta according to the package instructions.
In a large skillet, brown your ground beef.
Add in the onions and garlic and cook for an additional 2 minutes or until the meat is no longer pink.
Stir in the tomato paste, salt, pepper, nutmeg, and greek seasoning.
Add in the heavy cream and Greek yogurt, stirring until well mixed.
reduce the heat and cook until the sauce is thick. this should be about one minute.
drain your pasta and reserve 1 cup of the pasta water.
Combine the pasta, reserved water, and ground beef mixture.
Add in some parmesan cheese just before serving.
Serve immediately. Enjoy!

Recipe Tips

I use Chobani Greek Yogurt for the sauce but any plain unflavored and unsweetened Greek yogurt will do. Even sour cream can be used if you don’t have Greek yogurt on hand.
Greek seasoning should be available in your local grocery store. McCormick makes a great blend, but if you cant find any Greek seasoning, you can simply use Italian seasoning instead. The recipe will not taste exactly the same but Italian Seasoning will still give you some great taste.
Leftovers can be kept stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat before serving.

FAQs

What to serve with Pastitsio

Some great side dishes to include serving alongside your pastitsio is some bread and salad. Choose a nice Greek bread like challah and maybe a simple greek salad made with mixed greens. These will really help to make the dish feel more filling and well-rounded.

Can I freeze leftover pastitsio?

Absolutely! You can store your leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Then thaw for a few hours on the counter or overnight in the fridge before reheating and serving warm.

How to reheat pastitsio

If reheating a single portion or two, use the microwave as that will be the fastest method. Simply place a portion on a plate and microwave for 1-3 minutes, stirring halfway to help distribute the heat. For a larger portion, place the pasta in a baking dish in the oven at 350 degrees f until heated through. This could take up to 30 minutes but check after about 15 minutes.

For more delicious pasta recipes, check out my Pesto Pasta Recipe with Spaghetti, Baked Chicken Parmesan Pasta, and my Creamy Lemon Pasta.

Yield: 8 servings