Description
A quick and comforting weeknight dinner featuring ground beef, bowtie pasta, and a rich, silky cream sauce made in one pot.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ground beef (80/20 blend)
- 12 ounces bowtie pasta (farfalle)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon salt (for pasta water)
- Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add bowtie pasta and cook until 1 minute before al dente. Reserve 1 cup of starchy pasta water before draining.
- While pasta cooks, heat butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add diced onion and a pinch of salt; cook until softened and translucent (3-4 minutes).
- Add minced garlic and dried Italian seasoning to the skillet; cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add ground beef to the skillet, breaking it up with a spoon. Cook for 5-6 minutes until browned. Drain excess grease if necessary, leaving about a tablespoon.
- Pour in chicken broth to deglaze the pan, scraping up browned bits. Simmer for 1-2 minutes until liquid reduces slightly.
- Reduce heat to medium-low. Stir in heavy cream and simmer gently for 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened. Stir in Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
- Add drained pasta to the skillet with the sauce. Toss over low heat for 1-2 minutes, adding reserved pasta water as needed to achieve desired consistency.
- Serve immediately, garnished with fresh parsley and extra Parmesan if desired.
Notes
Use dried pasta for best texture. Do not boil the cream vigorously to prevent curdling. Reserve starchy pasta water to help emulsify the sauce. For a lighter option, ground turkey can be used, though the flavor will be less rich.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of the recipe
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 800
- Fat: 35
- Saturated Fat: 18
- Carbohydrates: 55
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 30
Keywords: creamy beef pasta, bowtie pasta, quick dinner, weeknight meals, one pot pasta, ground beef recipe, comfort food