One Pot Creamy Beef and Garlic Butter Pasta
One pot creamy beef and garlic butter pasta is a rich, cozy dinner made with ground beef, garlic, butter, broth, cream, Parmesan, and pasta.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef 80 or 85 percent lean
- 3-4 tablespoons butter split between cooking and finishing
- 4-6 cloves garlic, minced for a strong flavor
- 1-2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, optional for garnish
- 1 small onion, diced optional but adds flavor
- 10-12 ounces pasta penne, rotini, shells, or spaghetti broken in half
- 3 cups beef broth or stock enough to mostly cover pasta
- 3/4-1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2-1 cup Parmesan, grated freshly grated is best
- Seasonings: salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning, paprika (optional)
- Spinach or peas (optional): a couple handfuls for color
- Red pepper flakes (optional): for a bit of heat
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Instructions
Cooking
- In a large pot or deep skillet, brown the ground beef over medium heat, breaking it up with a spoon, until no longer pink.
- If there's excess grease, spoon out some of it to prevent a heavy sauce.
- Add the butter and optional onion; stir for 2-3 minutes until softened, then add the garlic and stir for about 30 seconds.
- Sprinkle in seasonings: typically 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon paprika, and a pinch of black pepper. Add salt lightly.
- Pour in the beef broth and add the pasta; stir to coat the pasta, pressing down to submerge it in liquid.
- Bring to a gentle simmer, reduce heat to avoid boiling, and stir occasionally.
- Cook until pasta is tender and liquid is reduced, about 10 to 14 minutes.
- Once pasta is cooked, reduce heat to low and stir in heavy cream, adding Parmesan gradually until melted.
- Garnish with chopped parsley before serving, if desired.
- For extra gloss, add another tablespoon of butter and stir until melted and smooth.
- Adjust salt and pepper as necessary. If adding spinach, include it now until wilted.
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Note
This dish is perfect for repurposing leftovers; reheat with a splash of broth or milk to retain creaminess. For lighter options, consider using half-and-half instead of heavy cream.