Description
This Creamy Parmesan Garlic Beef Bowtie Pasta combines tender ground beef, al dente pasta, and a rich, garlicky Parmesan sauce in one irresistible dish. Ready in under 30 minutes using just one pan, it’s the ultimate weeknight comfort food that tastes like it came from a restaurant. Perfect for busy families who don’t want to sacrifice flavor for convenience!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ground beef (85% lean recommended)
- 8 ounces bowtie pasta (farfalle)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium onion, finely diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2½ cups beef broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch (optional, for thickening)
- 2 tablespoons cold water (if using cornstarch)
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook until beginning to brown, about 3-4 minutes, breaking it into smaller pieces as it cooks.
- Add diced onion to the beef and continue cooking until onion softens and becomes translucent, about 2-3 minutes.
- Stir in minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using). Cook for an additional 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add beef broth to the skillet, scraping the bottom to release any browned bits. Bring to a boil.
- Add the bowtie pasta, stirring to ensure all pieces are submerged. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 10-12 minutes or until pasta is al dente and most liquid is absorbed.
- Reduce heat to low. Add heavy cream and butter, stirring until butter melts completely.
- Gradually add grated Parmesan cheese, stirring constantly until melted and smooth.
- If sauce needs thickening, mix cornstarch with cold water to create a slurry, then stir into pasta and simmer for 1-2 minutes until desired thickness is reached.
- Remove from heat and stir in most of the chopped parsley, reserving some for garnish.
- Let stand 2-3 minutes before serving. Garnish with remaining parsley and additional Parmesan if desired.
Notes
- For best results, grate Parmesan fresh rather than using pre-shredded cheese.
- To prevent a broken sauce, keep heat low when adding cream and cheese, and stir constantly.
- Customize with vegetables like mushrooms, spinach, or cherry tomatoes for extra nutrition.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When reheating, add a splash of milk or cream to restore the creamy texture.
- For a lighter version, substitute half-and-half for heavy cream and use lean ground beef or ground turkey.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: One-Pan
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 recipe
- Calories: 780
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 920mg
- Fat: 48g
- Saturated Fat: 25g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 43g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 40g
- Cholesterol: 180mg
Keywords: one-pan pasta, beef pasta recipe, creamy pasta dishes, parmesan pasta, bowtie pasta recipe, garlic parmesan sauce, weeknight dinner, family friendly meals, ground beef recipes