Creamy Ground Beef Pasta: Easy Weeknight Dinner
A quick, comforting weeknight dinner featuring tender ground beef in a rich, velvety cream sauce tossed with short pasta. This easy one-pan meal is ready in under 30 minutes and is perfect for busy families.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground beef (80/20 lean-to-fat ratio recommended)
- 12 oz short pasta (rotini, penne, or fusilli)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup chicken broth (low-sodium)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated fresh
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded (low-moisture)
- 1 tsp dried Italian seasoning
- 2 tbsp butter
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Reserved pasta water as needed
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of starchy pasta water before draining. Set pasta aside.
- While pasta boils, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and break into small crumbles. Cook until browned and no pink remains (5-7 minutes). Drain excess grease if necessary, leaving some for flavor.
- Push beef to one side or remove temporarily. Add butter to the pan. Once melted, add diced onions and sauté for 3-4 minutes until translucent. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Return beef to the pan. Pour in chicken broth and simmer for 2 minutes to deglaze the pan. Sprinkle in Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Stir well.
- Lower heat to medium-low. Pour in heavy cream and stir gently. Simmer gently for 3-5 minutes until sauce thickens slightly. Do not boil vigorously.
- Remove pan from heat. Stir in Parmesan cheese first, then mozzarella, until melted and smooth. If sauce is too thick, add a splash of reserved pasta water.
- Add drained pasta to the sauce. Toss everything together until every noodle is coated. Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve immediately.
Notes
Do not let the sauce boil vigorously after adding cream to prevent separation. Use fresh pasta water to help the sauce cling to the noodles. For a lighter version, swap heavy cream for half-and-half or Greek yogurt (added off-heat). For gluten-free, use GF pasta but rinse briefly after draining to remove excess starch.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 800
- Fat: 35
- Saturated Fat: 18
- Carbohydrates: 55
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 30
Keywords: creamy ground beef pasta, weeknight dinner, easy pasta recipe, comfort food, ground beef recipes, quick dinner, family meals