Description
A quick and comforting weeknight dinner featuring ground beef in a rich, velvety parmesan cream sauce tossed with pasta, ready in just 20 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450g) ground beef (80/20 lean-to-fat ratio)
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup (240ml) heavy cream
- 1/2 cup (120ml) beef broth (low-sodium)
- 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 8 oz (225g) dried pasta (penne, rotini, or fettuccine)
- 1 tsp dried Italian seasoning
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Reserved pasta water as needed
Instructions
- Fill a large pot with salted water and bring to a rolling boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of starchy pasta water before draining.
- While pasta boils, heat butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add diced onion and cook until translucent, about 3 minutes.
- Add ground beef to the skillet, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Cook until browned and no pink remains, about 4 minutes. Drain excess grease if necessary.
- Push beef to the side and add minced garlic and Italian seasoning. Sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in beef broth to deglaze the pan, scraping up browned bits. Simmer for 1 minute to reduce slightly.
- Pour in heavy cream and stir to combine. Simmer gently for 2 minutes until the sauce starts to thicken.
- Reduce heat to low. Stir in grated parmesan cheese until melted and smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Add reserved pasta water if the sauce is too thick.
- Add drained pasta to the skillet with the sauce. Toss everything together over low heat for 1 minute to coat the pasta. Serve immediately.
Notes
For best results, use 80/20 ground beef for flavor. Do not substitute heavy cream with milk if you want a truly creamy texture. Always reserve pasta water to help emulsify the sauce. If using lean beef, add extra butter or oil. This recipe is not suitable for freezing due to the cream sauce.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 800
- Fat: 35
- Saturated Fat: 18
- Carbohydrates: 55
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 30
Keywords: creamy beef pasta, quick dinner, weeknight meals, ground beef recipes, easy pasta, comfort food, 20 minute meals