Creamy Garlic Beef Pasta
A rich and flavorful pasta dish with tender ground beef, creamy garlic butter sauce, and parmesan, perfect for an easy yet impressive Italian-American dinner.
Equipment
- 1 large pot for boiling pasta
- 1 large skillet for cooking beef and sauce
Ingredients
- 12 oz linguine pasta
- 1 lb ground beef 80/20
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 small yellow onion finely diced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp salt adjust to taste
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes optional
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley or thyme chopped, optional
- 1/2 cup reserved pasta water as needed
Instructions
- Cook the linguine in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water.
- Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and onion and sauté until fragrant and translucent.
- Add ground beef to the skillet and cook until browned. Season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Drain excess fat.
- Pour in heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer. Stir in parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes if using. Simmer until sauce thickens, about 4–5 minutes.
- Add the cooked linguine to the sauce and toss to combine. Use reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce if needed.
- Garnish with fresh parsley or thyme and serve immediately, optionally topping with extra parmesan and black pepper.
Notes
- Use freshly grated parmesan for the richest flavor and smoothest sauce.
- Reserve pasta water to thin sauce without losing flavor.
- Add mushrooms or spinach with onions for extra veggies.