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Cozy and easy, this creamy ground beef stovetop pasta brings everything together in one pan. Every bite is packed with tender noodles and super flavorful, luscious sauce swirled with beef. Perfect when you need dinner fast but still crave something hearty. Creamy, comforting, and speedy—your weeknight hero meal.
Ran into this dish on a hectic week—couldn’t believe something so easy felt so fancy. My crew had it on repeat that month, which totally tells you how much people love it when it lands on the dinner table.
Must-Try Key Ingredients
- Italian seasoning: This blend of herbs ties together the creamy sauce and beef for a balanced, tasty kick
- Garlic and onions: Start by cooking these aromatics to set up awesome flavor from the get-go
- Beef broth: Boosts the overall richness, helping the sauce really stick to every noodle
- Pasta: Choose short options like rotini or penne—their shape clings onto creamy sauce so well
- Heavy cream: Delivers that extra-smooth, dreamy sauce—swap-ins just won’t cut it if you want velvety texture
- Parmesan cheese: Freshly shredded works best for melt-factor and flavor payoff
- Ground beef: Go for 85/15 beef to nail the rich taste without too much grease left behind
How To Nail This Meal
- Finishing touches:
- Turn the heat down low. Pour in heavy cream and half your parmesan. Let it bubble until the sauce thickens and sticks to your spoon—around 3-4 minutes. The pasta softens up and soaks in all that goodness.
- Making the sauce:
- Splash in beef broth and scrape up anything stuck to the bottom for extra flavor bursts. Toss in the dry pasta and your herbs, bring things to a simmer, and cover it. Let it cook and stir here and there to keep the pasta from sticking—should take about 8 minutes to get close to al dente.
- Building the base:
- Mix in your minced garlic next and let it go for half a minute—don’t let it brown—just enough to smell amazing. Add finely chopped onions earlier on and cook till they’re see-through (a few minutes). This little step brings a nice depth.
- Browning the beef:
- Start by heating your big skillet, then crumble in the ground beef. Let it cook till it turns brown and most of the pink’s gone—about 5-7 minutes. The tasty browning bits are where the flavor’s really at.
The way beef broth soaks right into the noodles makes this super flavorful. My husband’s all about tomato pastas, but this creamy pasta has him hooked—he even asks for leftovers for his next-day lunch. First time he ate it, he instantly wanted seconds.
Easy Weeknight Fave
If you've only got one pan and twenty minutes, you can whip up this classic. Simple steps, familiar fridge staples, and some smart cooking tricks turn basics into a crowd-pleaser. Comfort food doesn’t get any easier or more satisfying. Each spoonful brings you the cozy feels after a wild day.
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Go-To Family Dinner
You don’t have to get fancy or hunt down special stuff for a great dinner together. Creamy beefy pasta is always a hit—kids gobble up the mellow sauce, and grownups appreciate the rich layers. Sharing this around the table sparks laughter and talk, plus the way it smells in your kitchen and warms you up just sticks in your memory after the plates are cleared.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- → Can I use a different type of pasta for this recipe?
- For sure, any shape you like works fine. Small pasta like rotini, penne, or shells grab more of that creamy sauce.
- → How do I store leftover creamy ground beef pasta?
- Pop leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge. They’ll be good for 3 days or so. Pasta will soak up sauce as it sits, so add a splash of cream when warming up.
- → Can I add vegetables to this stovetop creamy ground beef pasta?
- Absolutely. Throw in mushrooms, peas, spinach, or bell peppers. If they’re firm like peppers, toss them in early. Softer veggies like spinach go in last.
- → What can I substitute for heavy cream to make it lighter?
- Half-and-half or whole milk lightens things up, though the sauce isn’t quite as thick. Full-fat coconut milk is a nice swap if you want to skip dairy.
- → Is there a way to make this creamy ground beef pasta spicy?
- Sure thing! Throw in crushed red pepper when you cook the onions and garlic, or stir in hot sauce or cayenne when adding liquids.