Description
This One-Pot Creamy Beef and Garlic Butter Pasta is a hearty and comforting dish combining savory ground beef, tender pasta, and a rich garlic butter cream sauce. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, this recipe requires just one pot to cook everything together, making cleanup easy. The addition of fresh spinach or kale adds a healthy touch, while Parmesan cheese and parsley garnish elevate the flavors beautifully.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef (or beef substitutes)
- 12 ounces pasta (penne or fusilli)
- 4 cups beef broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 4 tablespoons garlic butter (store-bought or homemade)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2 cups fresh spinach or kale (optional)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
For Serving
- Grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Heat the oil: Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large pot.
- Sauté onions: Add the finely chopped onions and sauté until translucent, about 3-4 minutes.
- Cook the ground beef: Add the ground beef to the pot, breaking it up with a spatula, and cook until browned, approximately 5-7 minutes.
- Add garlic butter: Mix in the garlic butter and allow it to melt completely into the beef mixture.
- Add beef broth: Pour in the beef broth and bring the mixture to a gentle boil.
- Cook the pasta: Add the uncooked pasta, stirring to ensure it’s submerged. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover the pot, and let it simmer for 10-12 minutes until the pasta is tender.
- Finish with cream and greens: Stir in the heavy cream and optional fresh spinach or kale, cooking until the greens are wilted and heated through.
- Season and serve: Taste the pasta and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed. Serve hot, topped with grated Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley garnish.
Notes
- For a vegetarian version, substitute ground beef with plant-based mince.
- You can use other pasta shapes if desired, but pick ones that hold sauce well like penne or fusilli.
- If you don’t have garlic butter, you can use regular butter and add minced garlic separately.
- Add fresh herbs like thyme or oregano for additional flavor.
- Make sure to keep the pasta submerged while cooking to ensure even cooking.
- Optional: Add chili flakes for a spicy kick.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: one pot pasta, creamy beef pasta, garlic butter pasta, easy weeknight dinner, beef and pasta recipe
