Zippy Creamy Beef Penne Recipe with Cheesy Garlic Butter Magic

Comfort food reaches new heights with this creamy beef penne with garlic butter and cheese that promises pure culinary bliss.

Tender pasta embraces rich, savory ground beef in a luscious sauce that melts in your mouth.

Each forkful delivers a perfect balance of creamy cheese and aromatic garlic butter.

The dish comes together quickly, making it ideal for busy weeknight dinners or spontaneous gatherings.

Hearty and satisfying, this recipe turns simple ingredients into an extraordinary meal.

Dive into a plate of pure deliciousness that will have everyone asking for seconds.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Calories: 668 kcal

Servings: 5

Creamy Beef Penne with Garlic Butter and Cheese Ingredients

• Penne Pasta: Provides the hearty foundation for the dish, selecting bronze-cut pasta ensures better sauce adhesion.

• Ground Beef: Delivers rich meaty flavor, choose lean cuts for healthier option and better texture.

• Butter, Heavy Cream, Parmesan Cheese, Mozzarella Cheese: Creates luxurious creamy base, opt for freshly grated cheeses for deeper flavor complexity.

• Garlic, Italian Seasoning, Salt, Pepper: Transforms ordinary ingredients into extraordinary taste, use fresh garlic for most vibrant profile.

• Fresh Parsley: Adds bright color and fresh herbal notes, chop just before serving to maintain maximum flavor and visual appeal.

Setup and Tools for Creamy Beef Penne

• Large Pot: Essential for boiling pasta in salted water.
• Large Skillet: Perfect for browning beef and creating the creamy sauce.
• Spatula: Crucial for breaking up ground beef while cooking.
• Colander: Needed to drain pasta after cooking.
• Measuring Spoons: Helpful for adding precise amounts of seasonings.
• Sharp Knife: Used for mincing garlic and chopping fresh parsley.
• Wooden Spoon or Whisk: Great for stirring sauce and combining ingredients smoothly.

Cooking Creamy Garlic Penne with Confidence

• Pasta Preparation

Boil penne in salted water until perfectly tender. Drain and keep warm.

• Beef Foundation

Brown ground beef in butter, breaking into small crumbles. Remove excess fat and set aside.

• Garlic Flavor Base

Melt butter in skillet and sauté garlic until aromatic, creating a rich fragrant layer.

• Creamy Cheese Transformation

Pour heavy cream into skillet, gently simmer. Slowly incorporate Parmesan and mozzarella until sauce becomes silky and smooth. Season with Italian herbs and spices.

• Final Fusion

Combine cooked beef and pasta into creamy sauce. Stir thoroughly, allowing flavors to merge and warm through completely.

• Delicious Presentation

Sprinkle fresh parsley on top. Serve immediately while sauce remains luxuriously warm and inviting.

Tips to Enrich the Cheese and Garlic Flavor

• Pasta Perfection Tricks: Choose high-quality penne with ridges to help sauce cling better.
• Beef Browning Secret: Pat ground beef dry before cooking to achieve a perfect golden-brown crust and prevent steaming.
• Cheese Melting Magic: Grate cheese fresh for smoother melting and richer flavor compared to pre-shredded versions.
• Sauce Rescue Technique: If sauce seems too thick, gradually add a splash of pasta water to reach desired consistency without losing flavor.
• Flavor Boost Options: Experiment by adding red pepper flakes for heat, swap ground beef with Italian sausage, or mix in roasted vegetables like bell peppers and zucchini for extra nutrition and texture.

How to Serve Creamy Beef Penne Beautifully

• Cozy Family Dinner Delight: Serve this hearty pasta dish as a comforting midweek meal that brings everyone together around the table.
• Elegant Dinner Party Centerpiece: Pair the creamy beef penne with a crisp green salad and garlic bread to create a restaurant-worthy spread that will impress your guests.
• Meal Prep Magic: Portion the pasta into individual containers for easy lunch options throughout the week, ensuring a delicious and satisfying meal at work or home.
• Quick Leftover Transformation: Reheat the pasta with a splash of additional cream to restore its creamy texture, or use it as a filling for stuffed peppers or a base for a casserole remix.

Keeping Leftover Penne Creamy and Satisfying

• Quick Batch Preparation: Whip up double the recipe and portion out extra servings into airtight containers for easy weeknight meals. This strategy saves time and ensures delicious dinners are always within reach.
• Refrigerator Storage Strategy: Keep leftover creamy beef penne in sealed containers for 3-4 days. Always refrigerate within two hours of cooking to maintain food safety and prevent bacterial growth.
• Smart Reheating Technique: When ready to enjoy leftovers, sprinkle a few tablespoons of milk or cream before microwaving to restore the sauce's original creamy consistency. Stir halfway through heating to distribute warmth evenly and prevent sauce separation.
• Freezer-Friendly Option: This dish freezes beautifully for up to two months. Transfer cooled pasta to freezer-safe containers, leaving slight space for expansion. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat gently to maintain texture and flavor integrity.

Rich Beef Penne with Garlic Butter and Cheese

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4.7 from 38 reviews

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 5 1x

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Description

Hearty beef penne with garlic butter emerges as a comforting Italian-inspired pasta dish packed with rich flavors. Cheese melts perfectly over tender beef, creating a satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 lb (454 g) ground beef
• 12 oz (340 g) penne pasta
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
• ½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
• 3 tbsps unsalted butter
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• ½ tsp salt, or to taste
• ¼ tsp black pepper, or to taste
• Fresh parsley, chopped for garnish

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Instructions

1. Pasta Preparation: Boil penne in generously salted water until al dente, then drain completely and allow to air-dry, ensuring optimal sauce absorption.
2. Beef Browning: Heat skillet with butter, crumble ground beef into fine pieces, cooking thoroughly until no pink remains, then drain excess grease and set meat aside while preserving the flavorful pan remnants.
3. Sauce Foundation: Reduce skillet heat, melt remaining butter, and sauté minced garlic until fragrant. Pour heavy cream, bringing to a gentle simmer, then gradually whisk in Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses until achieving a silky, uniform consistency.
4. Seasoning and Flavor Fusion: Incorporate Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper, blending thoroughly. Return cooked beef to the skillet, gently fold in pasta, ensuring complete coating and flavor integration.
5. Final Touches: Simmer the combined mixture for 2-3 minutes, allowing ingredients to harmonize and sauce to reach a luxurious thickness. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and serve immediately while piping hot.

Notes

• Pasta Perfection: Cook penne al dente to maintain a slight firmness, preventing mushy texture and ensuring ideal pasta bite.
• Beef Browning Technique: Crumble meat into fine pieces while cooking to maximize surface area for better caramelization and flavor development.
• Cheese Melting Wisdom: Add cheese gradually and stir continuously to create a smooth, lump-free sauce that coats pasta evenly.
• Flavor Layering Secret: Preserve browned bits in the skillet to enhance sauce depth and introduce rich, complex taste dimensions.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Mixing
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 5
• Calories: 668
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 680 mg
• Fat: 41 g
• Saturated Fat: 24 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
• Trans Fat: 1 g
• Carbohydrates: 49 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 30 g
• Cholesterol: 140 mg