Savory Creamy Beef Pasta Recipe for Cozy Family Dinners

Whipping up a delectable beef pasta with creamy sauce can turn an ordinary dinner into a memorable feast.

Pasta lovers understand the magic of combining tender meat and silky textures.

Rich, velvety ingredients meld together to create a comforting dish that satisfies deep hunger.

Home cooks appreciate how simple techniques can produce restaurant-quality meals in their own kitchens.

Seasonings like garlic, herbs, and black pepper add depth and complexity to every bite.

Cheese melts perfectly into the sauce, binding all elements into a harmonious blend.

You’ll want to savor each forkful of this irresistible comfort food that promises to become a family favorite.

Why Creamy Beef Pasta Recipe Is So Satisfying

• Boost Flavor Quickly: Sautéing garlic and seasoning ground beef creates an intense, mouthwatering base that transforms a simple pasta dish into a restaurant-quality meal.
• Master One-Pot Convenience: This recipe minimizes kitchen cleanup by using minimal cookware, making it perfect for busy weeknights or when you want delicious food without extensive preparation.
• Customize with Ease: Home cooks can adapt the recipe by adjusting spice levels, changing pasta types, or adding extra ingredients like vegetables to match personal taste preferences and dietary needs.
• Crowd-Pleasing Comfort: The combination of creamy sauce, tender beef, and perfectly cooked pasta makes this dish universally appealing for family dinners, potlucks, or casual gatherings with friends.

Everything You Need For Creamy Beef Pasta Recipe

• Ground Beef: A hearty protein that forms the core of the dish and provides rich, meaty flavor.
• Penne or Fettuccine: The pasta that serves as the main carbohydrate and carries the delicious sauce.

• Beef Broth: Adds depth and moisture to the beef mixture, enhancing overall taste.
• Heavy Cream: Creates a smooth, luxurious sauce that binds all ingredients together.
• Olive Oil: Provides a base for sautéing and adds a subtle fruity undertone.

• Garlic: Brings a robust, aromatic flavor that complements the beef perfectly.
• Salt, Black Pepper, Red Pepper Flakes: Seasonings that add layers of flavor and mild heat to the dish.
• Parmesan Cheese: Offers a salty, nutty dimension and helps thicken the sauce.
• Dried Parsley: Provides a fresh, herbal finish and visual appeal to the pasta.

Easy Instructions For Creamy Beef Pasta Recipe

Step 1: Warm Up the Pan

Drizzle olive oil into a large skillet and set it over medium-high heat. Toss in the minced garlic and let it dance around until it becomes fragrant and turns a light golden color, which takes about 30-45 seconds.

Step 2: Brown the Beef

Crumble the ground beef into the skillet, using a wooden spoon to break it into small pieces. Cook the beef until it’s completely browned with no pink showing, which usually takes 6-8 minutes.

Step 3: Season the Meat

• Salt
• Black pepper
• Red pepper flakes (optional)

Stir thoroughly to spread the seasonings evenly across the meat.

Step 4: Create a Flavorful Liquid Base

Pour beef broth into the skillet. Let it simmer and work its magic, lifting all those delicious browned bits from the bottom of the pan.

Step 5: Cook the Pasta

In a separate pot, boil salted water and cook penne or fettuccine until it reaches that perfect al dente texture, typically 8-10 minutes.

Step 6: Prepare the Pasta

Drain the pasta, keeping a small amount of pasta water. Return the pasta to the pot.

Step 7: Build the Creamy Sauce

Pour heavy cream into the beef mixture, stirring continuously to create a smooth, luxurious sauce that completely embraces the meat.

Step 8: Add Cheesy Goodness

Sprinkle grated parmesan cheese into the skillet. Mix until the cheese melts completely and blends into the creamy sauce.

Step 9: Combine Pasta and Sauce

Transfer the beef and sauce mixture over the cooked pasta. Gently toss to ensure every single pasta piece gets a perfect coating of the delicious sauce.

Step 10: Finish with Fresh Herbs

Dust dried parsley over the top, giving a final gentle stir to distribute the herbs throughout the dish.

Step 11: Serve and Enjoy

Plate the pasta immediately while it’s piping hot. Place extra parmesan cheese on the side for cheese lovers who want an extra touch of richness.

Tips To Make Creamy Beef Pasta Recipe Even Better

• Prevent Overcrowding: Space out ground beef in the skillet to ensure proper browning and avoid steaming the meat, which can make it tough and less flavorful.
• Capture Hidden Flavor: Use a wooden spoon to scrape up browned bits from the skillet bottom when deglazing, releasing concentrated meaty essence into the sauce.
• Control Pasta Texture: Cook pasta just until al dente, keeping a slight firmness to prevent mushiness when mixed with the creamy beef sauce.
• Balance Sauce Consistency: Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce thickness if needed, helping create a silky, clingy coating for the noodles.
• Enhance Herb Freshness: Consider substituting dried parsley with fresh chopped parsley for a brighter, more vibrant herb flavor and visual appeal.

Fun Twists On Creamy Beef Pasta Recipe

• Lean Ground Turkey Pasta: Swap ground beef with ground turkey for a lighter, lower-fat version that maintains the same creamy texture and flavor profile.
• Vegetarian Mushroom Pasta: Replace beef with sautéed portobello or cremini mushrooms, using vegetable broth instead of beef broth for a hearty plant-based alternative.
• Gluten-Free Zucchini Noodle Version: Substitute traditional pasta with spiralized zucchini noodles, ensuring a low-carb option that keeps the rich, creamy sauce intact.
• Dairy-Free Coconut Cream Pasta: Use coconut cream instead of heavy cream and nutritional yeast in place of parmesan cheese to create a lactose-free, allergen-friendly meal that still delivers robust flavors.

Great Matches For Creamy Beef Pasta Recipe

• Pair Hearty Red Wine: Select a robust Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot to complement the rich beef and creamy sauce, cutting through the dish's intense flavors with bold tannins.
• Balance with Fresh Salad: Create a crisp arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette to provide a light, tangy contrast against the heavy pasta's richness, cleansing the palate between bites.
• Enhance with Garlic Bread: Serve warm, crusty garlic bread alongside the pasta to soak up extra sauce and add a complementary garlicky dimension that echoes the dish's aromatic base.
• Refresh with Sparkling Water: Offer chilled sparkling water with a slice of lemon to help cleanse the palate and provide a refreshing counterpoint to the creamy, meaty pasta.

How To Store Creamy Beef Pasta Recipe Right

• Store leftovers in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking, keeping the pasta and beef mixture separate to maintain texture and prevent sogginess.
• Allow the dish to reach room temperature before sealing the container, preventing condensation that could make the pasta mushy.
• Consume refrigerated pasta within 3-4 days, keeping it sealed to retain moisture and prevent bacterial growth.
• Warm gently in a skillet over medium-low heat, adding a splash of beef broth or cream to restore moisture and prevent drying out, stirring occasionally until heated through completely.

Creamy Beef Pasta Recipe FAQ Guide

• Can I use a different type of ground meat?

Yes, ground turkey or chicken works great as alternatives to beef. Just ensure the meat is fully cooked and seasoned well.

• Is this dish spicy?

The red pepper flakes are optional, so you can control the heat level. Without them, the recipe is mild and creamy with no intense spiciness.

• How can I make this recipe more budget-friendly?

Use less expensive cuts of ground beef or swap for ground turkey. Also, reduce the amount of parmesan cheese or use a more affordable cheese brand.

• Do I need any special cooking skills to make this recipe?

Not at all! This recipe is beginner-friendly and requires basic cooking techniques like sautéing, browning meat, and boiling pasta. Anyone can successfully make this dish with simple instructions.

Creamy Beef Pasta Recipe

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4.8 from 40 reviews

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Satisfying comfort meets Italian-inspired cuisine in this creamy beef pasta that brings hearty flavors to your dinner table. Rich beef mingles with smooth sauce, creating a delectable meal you’ll crave again and again.

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Ingredients

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Proteins:

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 cup beef broth

Pasta and Starches:

• 8 oz penne pasta or fettuccine
• 1/2 cup heavy cream

Seasonings and Extras:

• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp dried parsley
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)

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Instructions

1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, then sauté minced garlic until fragrant and lightly golden, about 30-45 seconds.
2. Add ground beef to the skillet, breaking it into crumbly pieces with a wooden spoon, and cook until completely browned and no pink remains, approximately 6-8 minutes.
3. Sprinkle salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using) over the beef, stirring to distribute seasonings evenly throughout the meat.
4. Pour beef broth into the skillet, allowing the liquid to simmer and help deglaze the pan, capturing all the flavorful browned bits from the bottom.
5. While the beef mixture simmers, cook penne or fettuccine in a separate pot of salted boiling water according to package instructions until al dente, typically 8-10 minutes.
6. Drain the pasta, reserving a small amount of pasta water, then return the pasta to the pot.
7. Add heavy cream to the beef mixture, stirring continuously to create a smooth, rich sauce that coats the meat completely.
8. Incorporate grated parmesan cheese into the skillet, mixing until the cheese melts and blends seamlessly with the creamy sauce.
9. Pour the beef and sauce mixture over the cooked pasta, gently tossing to ensure every pasta piece is thoroughly coated.
10. Sprinkle dried parsley over the top, giving a final gentle stir to distribute the herbs throughout the dish.
11. Serve immediately while hot, with additional parmesan cheese on the side for those wanting extra richness.

Notes

• Pasta Selection Flexibility: Choose whole wheat or gluten-free pasta to accommodate dietary restrictions without compromising the dish’s creamy texture.
• Meat Alternatives: Swap ground beef with ground turkey, plant-based crumbles, or mushrooms for a lighter or vegetarian version that maintains the recipe’s hearty essence.
• Spice Customization: Adjust red pepper flakes to control heat levels, allowing personalization for mild or spicy palate preferences without overwhelming the creamy sauce.
• Sauce Consistency Control: Reserve pasta water to thin or thicken the sauce as needed, ensuring perfect coating and preventing dryness during final mixing stages.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 552
• Sugar: 1 g
• Sodium: 670 mg
• Fat: 30 g
• Saturated Fat: 12 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 44 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 27 g
• Cholesterol: 87 mg