Description
A creamy, cheesy, and hearty 30-minute dinner featuring bowtie pasta, ground beef, and a rich cream cheese Alfredo sauce that’s perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 ounces bowtie pasta (farfalle)
- 1 pound ground beef (80/20 preferred)
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened (full-fat)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Optional: 2 cups fresh spinach
- Optional: 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- Optional: 8 ounces mushrooms, sliced
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add bowtie pasta and cook 8-10 minutes until al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain and set aside.
- While pasta cooks, heat butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef, season with salt and pepper, and cook 5-7 minutes until browned. Drain excess fat if needed.
- Add minced garlic to the beef and cook 1 minute until fragrant.
- Lower heat to medium-low. Add softened cream cheese to skillet and stir until it begins to melt.
- Slowly pour in milk while stirring constantly to create a smooth sauce.
- Add Italian seasoning and freshly grated Parmesan cheese, stirring until cheese melts and sauce thickens. Add reserved pasta water if sauce is too thick.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
- Add drained pasta to skillet and toss to coat evenly with sauce.
- If using, add spinach and cherry tomatoes and cook for an additional minute until spinach wilts.
- Serve immediately, topped with extra Parmesan and cracked black pepper if desired.
Notes
[‘Soften cream cheese before cooking for smooth sauce.’, ‘Cook pasta al dente to avoid mushy texture after mixing with sauce.’, ‘Use freshly grated Parmesan for best flavor and texture.’, ‘Reserve pasta water to loosen sauce if needed.’, ‘Keep heat medium-low when making sauce to prevent graininess.’, ‘Add optional veggies at the end to keep them fresh and bright.’, ‘Leftovers reheat well on stovetop with a splash of milk; avoid freezing to prevent sauce separation.’]
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approxima
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 24
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 42
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 25
Keywords: Cream Cheese Alfredo, Bowtie Pasta, Ground Beef, Easy Dinner, 30-Minute Meal, Comfort Food, Weeknight Dinner