Description
Garlic Butter Beef Pasta is a rich, comforting one-pan-style pasta dinner made with tender ground beef, buttery garlic, onions, Parmesan, and a creamy beef broth sauce. It is quick, flavorful, and perfect for an easy weeknight meal.
Ingredients
- 12 oz (340 g) pasta, such as spaghetti, linguine, or penne
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter, divided
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes, optional
- 1 cup (240 ml) beef broth
- ½ cup (120 ml) heavy cream
- ½ cup (50 g) grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley, plus more for garnish
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to the package directions until al dente. Reserve about ½ cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta.
- While the pasta cooks, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons of the butter and the ground beef. Cook, breaking the beef apart with a spoon, until browned and fully cooked, about 6–8 minutes.
- Add the chopped onion and cook for 2–3 minutes, until softened.
- Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and the minced garlic. Cook for about 30–60 seconds, stirring constantly, until fragrant.
- Season with Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes if using, salt, and black pepper.
- Pour in the beef broth and stir, scraping up any flavorful browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Simmer for 2–3 minutes.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low and stir in the heavy cream. Let the sauce gently simmer for 2–3 minutes.
- Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss until well coated in the garlic butter beef sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add a small splash of reserved pasta water.
- Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley. Toss until the Parmesan melts into the sauce and everything is creamy and well combined.
- Taste and adjust the salt and black pepper as needed. Garnish with additional fresh parsley and Parmesan before serving.
Notes
- Use spaghetti, linguine, penne, or your favorite pasta shape.
- Cook the pasta just until al dente so it holds its texture when tossed with the sauce.
- Reserve some pasta water to loosen the sauce if needed.
- For extra garlic flavor, add another clove or two of minced garlic.
- Red pepper flakes are optional and can be adjusted to your preferred level of heat.
- For the creamiest sauce, add the Parmesan while the pasta is hot and toss immediately.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently with a splash of broth or cream.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American