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Delicious creamy beef pasta served in a bowl with herbs and grated cheese

Creamy Beef Pasta

This creamy beef pasta is a quick, filling, and comforting dish with simple ingredients, perfect for weeknight dinners.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 600
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pasta Ingredients
  • 8 oz penne pasta Cook according to package instructions.
Sauce Ingredients
  • 1 lb lean ground beef Use lean to reduce grease.
  • 1 cup heavy cream Can substitute with half-and-half for a lighter sauce.
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese Grate fresh for best results.
  • 2 tsp Italian seasoning
  • to taste salt and pepper Adjust according to preference.
  • 2 tsp olive oil for sautéing

Method
 

Cooking the Pasta
  1. Cook the penne until al dente, drain, and save 1 cup of pasta water.
Making the Sauce
  1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté the diced onion and minced garlic until soft and fragrant, about 5 minutes.
  2. Add the ground beef. Break it up and cook until browned, about 7 minutes. Season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
  3. Turn the heat low and pour in the heavy cream. Stir gently. Add reserved pasta water a little at a time until the sauce reaches the thickness you like.
  4. Stir in the grated Parmesan until it melts into the sauce.
Combining and Serving
  1. Add the cooked penne to the skillet and toss to coat the pasta well.
  2. Serve hot with extra Parmesan or chopped fresh parsley if you like.

Notes

Use lean ground beef to reduce extra grease. Save pasta water to help the cream sauce cling to the pasta. Grate fresh Parmesan for the best melt and flavor. Lower the heat before adding cream to avoid curdling. Taste and adjust salt and pepper at the end.