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.
Ingredients
Scale
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)
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, then sauté minced garlic until fragrant and lightly golden, about 30-45 seconds.
- 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.
- Sprinkle salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using) over the beef, stirring to distribute seasonings evenly throughout the meat.
- 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.
- 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.
- Drain the pasta, reserving a small amount of pasta water, then return the pasta to the pot.
- Add heavy cream to the beef mixture, stirring continuously to create a smooth, rich sauce that coats the meat completely.
- Incorporate grated parmesan cheese into the skillet, mixing until the cheese melts and blends seamlessly with the creamy sauce.
- Pour the beef and sauce mixture over the cooked pasta, gently tossing to ensure every pasta piece is thoroughly coated.
- Sprinkle dried parsley over the top, giving a final gentle stir to distribute the herbs throughout the dish.
- 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