Description
A quick and comforting weeknight dinner featuring tender bowtie pasta, seasoned ground beef, and a rich, silky garlic parmesan sauce that comes together in under 20 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450g) 80/20 ground beef
- 12 oz (340g) bowtie pasta (farfalle)
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4–5 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup (240ml) heavy cream
- 1 cup (100g) freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
- Reserved pasta water as needed
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add bowtie pasta and cook until al dente according to package directions. Reserve about 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
- While pasta cooks, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Cook until browned and no pink remains, about 5-7 minutes. Drain excess grease if necessary.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add butter to the beef. Once melted, add minced garlic and Italian seasoning. Sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
- Pour in heavy cream and stir to combine. Let it simmer gently for 2-3 minutes to thicken slightly. Do not boil vigorously.
- Remove the pan from heat. Stir in grated parmesan cheese until melted and smooth. Season with black pepper and red pepper flakes if using.
- Add the drained pasta to the skillet. Toss everything together, adding splashes of reserved pasta water as needed to reach desired consistency.
- Divide into bowls and top with extra parmesan and fresh parsley if desired. Serve immediately.
Notes
Use freshly grated parmesan for the smoothest sauce. Reserve pasta water to help emulsify the sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add more pasta water or milk. If too thin, simmer longer or add more cheese. Do not boil the sauce vigorously after adding cream to prevent separation.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate with sauce
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 45
- Saturated Fat: 22
- Carbohydrates: 40
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 25
Keywords: creamy beef pasta, bowtie pasta, garlic parmesan sauce, quick dinner, weeknight meals, easy pasta recipe, comfort food