Description
A quick and comforting creamy beef pasta dish ready in just 30 minutes, perfect for busy weeknights or surprise guests. This recipe balances rich creaminess with savory beef and Parmesan for an addictive one-pan sauce.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef (80/20 recommended)
- 12 ounces pasta (penne, rigatoni, elbows, or shells)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced (about 200g / 7 oz)
- 4 cloves garlic, minced (about 1 tablespoon)
- 1 cup beef broth (240ml)
- 3/4 cup heavy cream (180ml)
- 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (75g)
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning (or mix of dried basil and oregano)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Optional add-ins: 2 cups fresh spinach, 8 ounces sliced mushrooms, 4 slices cooked bacon chopped
Instructions
- Dice the onion and mince the garlic. Grate Parmesan and measure cream and broth.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until just al dente (about 8-10 minutes). Reserve 1 cup pasta water, then drain pasta.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown ground beef, breaking it up, about 5-6 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed, leaving some for flavor.
- Add diced onions to beef and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and red pepper flakes (if using), cook 1 more minute until fragrant.
- Pour in beef broth and simmer 2 minutes to reduce slightly. Stir in heavy cream and Italian seasoning. Simmer gently 3-4 minutes until sauce thickens.
- Remove skillet from heat and stir in Parmesan gradually until melted and smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Add drained pasta to skillet and toss to coat. Add reserved pasta water a tablespoon at a time if sauce is too thick.
- Serve immediately topped with extra Parmesan and fresh black pepper. Optionally drizzle olive oil or garnish with parsley.
Notes
[‘Save pasta water to adjust sauce consistency and help it cling to pasta.’, ‘Salt pasta water generously for best flavor.’, ‘Use freshly grated Parmesan for smooth sauce; avoid pre-grated cheese.’, ‘Add Parmesan off the heat to prevent grainy sauce.’, ‘Use room temperature cream to avoid sauce separation.’, ‘Do not overcook pasta; al dente is best.’, ‘Optional: stir in a tablespoon of cold butter at the end for extra richness.’, ‘Leftovers keep up to 4 days refrigerated; reheat gently with added cream or milk.’, ‘Freezing not recommended due to cream sauce separation.’]
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approxima
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 400
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 11
- Carbohydrates: 42
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 25
Keywords: creamy beef pasta, quick dinner, comfort food, one-pan sauce, easy pasta recipe, weeknight dinner