One Pot Creamy Beef and Garlic Butter Pasta
This one pot creamy beef and garlic butter pasta is rich, comforting, and ready in about 25 minutes. Made with tender ground beef, sautéed garlic, butter, broth, and perfectly cooked pasta, it creates a silky, flavorful sauce right in the same pot for an easy weeknight dinner with minimal cleanup.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 small onion finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 cup milk or heavy cream
- 8 oz uncooked pasta penne, rigatoni, or rotini
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- to taste salt
- to taste black pepper
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- In a large deep skillet or heavy pot over medium heat, cook the ground beef until fully browned, breaking it apart with a spoon. Drain excess grease if needed and season lightly with salt and black pepper.
- Add butter to the pot. Once melted, stir in the chopped onion and cook for 2–3 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
- Pour in the beef broth and milk or heavy cream. Stir well, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot for extra flavor.
- Add the uncooked pasta directly into the liquid, ensuring it is mostly submerged. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to a simmer.
- Partially cover and cook for 12–15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is tender and the sauce has thickened.
- Stir in freshly grated Parmesan cheese until melted and creamy. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed.
- Remove from heat and let rest for 2–3 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken slightly. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve warm.
Notes
Use freshly grated Parmesan for the smoothest texture. Keep the simmer gentle to prevent the dairy from curdling. If the sauce becomes too thick, add a splash of warm broth or milk to loosen it. For extra richness, stir in a spoonful of cream cheese. Add vegetables like spinach or mushrooms during the final minutes of cooking for added nutrition and flavor.