Quick Creamy Garlic Butter Ground Beef Pasta
A fast and delicious creamy garlic butter pasta with ground beef, ready in under 15 minutes. Perfect for busy weeknights, this dish combines simple ingredients into a comforting and flavorful meal.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 8 ounces pasta (spaghetti, penne, or fusilli)
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
- Handful of fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 8 ounces of pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta and set aside.
- While the pasta cooks, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Drain excess fat if desired.
- Reduce heat to medium. Push the beef to one side of the skillet and add 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter to the empty side. Once melted, add minced garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant but not browned.
- Stir the garlic butter into the beef. Pour in 1/2 cup whole milk and stir to combine. Let it simmer gently for 2-3 minutes to thicken slightly.
- Lower heat to medium-low. Stir in 1/2 cup grated Parmesan until melted and creamy. Add the cooked pasta to the skillet, tossing well to coat. If the sauce feels too thick, add reserved pasta water a tablespoon at a time until desired creaminess is reached.
- Taste and adjust salt and pepper. Sprinkle a pinch of red pepper flakes if using. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley.
- Serve immediately with extra Parmesan on the side.
Notes
Do not overcook garlic to avoid bitterness. Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency. Use lean ground beef to prevent greasiness. European-style butter and freshly grated Parmesan enhance flavor. For dairy-free, substitute butter with olive oil and milk with plant-based milk. Gluten-free pasta can be used as a substitute.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of the recipe
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 400
- Fat: 20
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 25
Keywords: quick pasta, creamy garlic butter, ground beef pasta, easy dinner, weeknight meal, garlic butter sauce, creamy pasta, fast dinner