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Delicious one-pot creamy beef pasta with garlic butter

One-Pot Creamy Beef and Garlic Butter Pasta

A cozy and speedy one-pot dish filled with buttery garlic flavor and rich creamy sauce, perfect for family dinners any night of the week.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 5 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 600
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1.5 lbs ground beef
  • 12 oz pasta (rotini, rigatoni, or penne)
  • 3 cups chicken broth
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 0.5 cup grated Parmesan
  • 3 tbsp butter Unsalted helps control salt
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced Fresh garlic provides bigger flavor
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp Cajun seasoning (optional)
  • to taste Salt & black pepper
  • 0.5 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
  • for garnish Fresh parsley, chopped

Method
 

Cooking
  1. Heat a large deep skillet or pot over medium-high and melt 1 tbsp butter.
  2. Add the ground beef, then sprinkle smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Cook until browned and no longer pink, breaking it apart as it cooks.
  3. Push the beef to one side of the pot. Add the remaining 2 tbsp butter and the minced garlic. Sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
  4. Stir the uncooked pasta into the beef and garlic, tossing to coat. Pour in the chicken broth and heavy cream.
  5. Bring to a gentle simmer and reduce heat to keep a steady bubble. Stir occasionally while cooking for about 10-12 minutes until pasta is al dente.
  6. Turn off heat and stir in shredded cheddar and grated Parmesan until melted and silky. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of reserved pasta water.
  7. Taste and adjust seasoning, adding red pepper flakes if desired.
  8. Plate hot and garnish with chopped parsley and extra Parmesan before serving.

Notes

This recipe can be adapted with different spices, cheeses, or ingredients. Common mistakes include sauce separation, which can be fixed by whisking in pasta water off the heat. For leftover ideas, turn it into a warm pasta sandwich or a rice bowl.