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.
Ingredients
Scale
- 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
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Boil penne in generously salted water until al dente, then drain completely and allow to air-dry, ensuring optimal sauce absorption.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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