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Creamy beef pasta dish served in a bowl with parsley garnish

Creamy Beef Pasta

This Creamy Beef Pasta offers a cozy and hearty meal perfect for fall nights, blending rich flavors with simple preparation for a comforting dish.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine Italian
Servings 4 servings
Calories 650 kcal

Ingredients
  

Pasta and Beef

  • 12 ounces pasta (penne, rigatoni, or your favorite)
  • 1 lb ground beef

Cooking Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup mushrooms, sliced (optional)
  • 1/2 cup dry white cooking wine or extra beef broth
  • 1 cup beef or chicken broth
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish

Instructions
 

Cooking the Pasta

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta until just shy of al dente (about 1–2 minutes less than package directions).
  • Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, drain, and set pasta aside.

Brown the Beef

  • Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  • Add ground beef, season with salt and pepper, and cook until browned, breaking it into pieces.
  • Remove excess fat if needed, leaving fond on the pan for flavor.

Sauté Aromatics

  • Lower heat to medium. Add onion and mushrooms to the pan and cook until softened, about 4–5 minutes.
  • Stir in garlic and cook 30 seconds more.

Deglaze and Build the Sauce

  • Pour in the wine (or broth) to deglaze the pan, scraping up browned bits.
  • Stir in tomato paste, oregano, and smoked paprika. Add broth and bring to a gentle simmer.

Finish with Cream and Cheese

  • Reduce heat to low and stir in heavy cream and Parmesan until the sauce is smooth.
  • Taste and adjust seasoning.

Combine and Serve

  • Add the drained pasta directly into the skillet, tossing to coat.
  • Use reserved pasta water a little at a time to loosen the sauce to your preferred consistency.
  • Garnish with chopped parsley and extra cheese before serving.

Notes

Don’t overcook the pasta; finishing it in the sauce lets it soak up flavor without becoming mushy. Save pasta water to help the sauce cling to pasta. Heat control is important to prevent the cream from separating. Use freshly grated Parmesan for best results.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 650kcalCarbohydrates: 65gProtein: 30gFat: 30gSaturated Fat: 18gSodium: 800mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3g
Keyword comfort food, Creamy Beef Pasta, fall recipe, Hearty Dinner, Pasta Recipe
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