Garlic Butter Beef Pasta (Printable version)
Hearty pasta with garlic butter sauce, seasoned ground beef, and Parmesan cheese for a comforting weeknight meal.
# What you need:
→ Pasta
01 - 12 oz spaghetti, fettuccine, or penne
→ Ground Beef
02 - 1 lb ground beef
03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
04 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
→ Garlic Butter Sauce
05 - 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
06 - 5 garlic cloves, minced
07 - 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
08 - 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
→ Finish and Garnish
09 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
10 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
11 - Salt and pepper to taste
# How To:
01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining.
02 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season ground beef with salt and pepper, then add to the skillet. Cook until browned and cooked through, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon. Drain excess fat and transfer to a plate.
03 - In the same skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic, Italian seasoning, and crushed red pepper flakes. Sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant, stirring frequently to prevent the garlic from browning.
04 - Return the cooked ground beef to the skillet. Add the drained pasta and toss to combine. Gradually stir in small amounts of the reserved pasta water until the sauce evenly coats the pasta.
05 - Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over the pasta and toss until melted and evenly distributed. Adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper as needed.
06 - Remove from heat and transfer to serving plates. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and serve immediately.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It uses pantry staples you probably already have, which means no emergency grocery runs on exhausted evenings.
- The garlic butter sauce clings to every strand of pasta like a warm hug disguised as dinner.
02 -
- Do not let the garlic brown in the butter, because burnt garlic turns bitter and drags the whole dish down with it.
- That reserved pasta water contains starch that helps the sauce emulsify and stick, so never skip scooping it out before you drain.
03 -
- Salt your pasta water until it tastes like mild broth, because that is the only chance you get to season the noodles themselves.
- Grate your Parmesan from a block right before using it, since pre shredded cheese contains coatings that prevent it from melting smoothly.