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–+ servings
Creamy beef pasta dish featuring a rich sauce and tender noodles

Creamy Beef Pasta

This Creamy Beef Pasta is a quick and comforting dish that combines hearty penne pasta with a rich, garlicky cream sauce and browned beef, perfect for weeknight dinners.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 500
Ingredients Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

Main ingredients
  • 8 oz penne pasta Any short pasta works
  • 1 lb lean ground beef (90/10 or 85/15) Keeps the sauce from getting greasy
  • 1 cup heavy cream For a lighter version, use half-and-half
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced Or 1 1/2 teaspoons jarred minced garlic
  • 1 medium onion, diced Adds flavor to the dish
  • 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese Freshly grated is best
  • 2 tsp Italian seasoning
  • to taste Salt and pepper For seasoning
  • 2 tsp olive oil for sautéing

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Fill a large pot with water, salt it well, and bring to a boil.
  2. Add the penne and cook until al dente following package directions. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta.
Cooking
  1. Warm a large skillet over medium heat and add 2 teaspoons of olive oil.
  2. Add the diced onion and minced garlic to the skillet. Sauté for about 5 minutes until softened and aromatic.
  3. Add the ground beef. Break it into pieces with a wooden spoon and cook for about 7 minutes until fully browned.
  4. Season the meat with salt, pepper, and 2 teaspoons of Italian seasoning. Stir to distribute the flavors.
  5. Reduce the heat to low. Pour in 1 cup of heavy cream and stir to combine. Keep the cream warm but do not let it boil rapidly.
  6. Add reserved pasta water a little at a time until the sauce reaches your preferred consistency.
  7. Stir in the grated Parmesan and continue stirring until the cheese fully melts and the sauce is smooth.
  8. Add the drained penne to the skillet and toss gently to coat every piece of pasta. Add another splash of reserved pasta water if the sauce seems too thick.
  9. Serve immediately with extra Parmesan or chopped fresh parsley if desired.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Calories: 500kcalCarbohydrates: 48gProtein: 30gFat: 25gSaturated Fat: 15gSodium: 700mgFiber: 3gSugar: 2g

Notes

Best enjoyed with a crisp salad or steamed vegetables. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

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