If you’re looking for a beef pasta recipe that’s hearty, creamy, and comes together in just one pot, this is the one.
Creamy One Pot Beef Pasta With Garlic Butter is the kind of dinner that makes everyone show up to the table fast.
Tender penne, seasoned ground beef, and a ridiculously good garlic butter cream sauce — all made in a single pot with barely any cleanup.
This is one of those recipes you’ll want to bookmark immediately.
It’s comfort food at its finest — rich, satisfying, and absolutely packed with flavor.
Why This Beef Pasta Is So Good
Let’s be honest. One pot meals are the best kind of meals.
Less dishes, less stress, more time actually enjoying dinner.
The garlic butter in this recipe takes things to a whole new level. It coats every single piece of pasta in this unbelievable buttery richness.
And because the pasta cooks right in the sauce, it soaks up all that beefy, garlicky flavor as it simmers.
The result? Pasta that’s creamy from the inside out.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Here’s the best part — you probably already have most of these in your kitchen.
Ground beef — 80/20 works great here. The fat adds so much flavor to the sauce.
Penne pasta — holds onto that cream sauce like a dream. Rigatoni works too.
Butter and garlic — the dynamic duo. Use real butter and fresh garlic cloves for the best results.
Heavy cream — this is what makes the sauce so luxuriously silky.
Beef broth — adds depth and cooks the pasta perfectly in one pot.
Parmesan cheese — freshly grated melts into the sauce and makes everything come together.
Italian seasoning, onion, salt, and pepper — simple seasonings that pack a punch.
How To Make It
Brown the beef. Cook the ground beef in a large pot or deep skillet over medium-high heat until no longer pink. Drain any excess fat.
Build the flavor base. Add diced onion and cook until softened. Then add the garlic and butter, stirring until the butter melts and the garlic is fragrant — about 60 seconds.
Add the liquids and pasta. Pour in the beef broth, then stir in the Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Add the penne pasta and bring everything to a boil.
Simmer until tender. Reduce heat, cover, and let it cook for about 12-14 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is al dente and most of the liquid has been absorbed.
Finish with cream and cheese. Stir in the heavy cream and parmesan cheese. Let it simmer for another 2-3 minutes until the sauce is thick, creamy, and coats every piece of pasta.
Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately.
Tips For The Best Results
Don’t skip the garlic butter step. Cooking the garlic in butter before adding the liquids creates this incredible toasty, nutty flavor that makes the whole dish sing.
Stir occasionally while simmering. This keeps the pasta from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
Use freshly grated parmesan. The pre-shredded stuff has anti-caking agents that can make the sauce grainy.
If the sauce gets too thick, just splash in a little extra broth or cream to loosen it up.
What To Serve With It
This beef pasta is a complete meal on its own, but it pairs beautifully with a few extras.
A simple side salad with Italian dressing keeps things fresh and light.
Garlic bread is always a winner — because there’s no such thing as too much garlic butter.
Roasted broccoli or steamed green beans add a nice pop of color and balance out the richness.
Creamy One Pot Beef Pasta With Garlic Butter
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef 80/20
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion diced
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 cups beef broth
- 12 oz penne pasta
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- salt and black pepper to taste
- fresh parsley chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large pot or deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon, and cook until browned and no longer pink, about 5-6 minutes. Drain excess fat.
- Add the diced onion to the pot and cook for 2-3 minutes until softened. Add the minced garlic and butter, stirring until the butter melts and the garlic is fragrant, about 60 seconds.
- Pour in the beef broth and stir in the Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Add the penne pasta and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 12-14 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is al dente and most of the liquid has been absorbed.
- Stir in the heavy cream and parmesan cheese. Let simmer uncovered for 2-3 minutes until the sauce is thick and creamy.
- Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and serve immediately.
Notes
Final Thoughts
This Creamy One Pot Beef Pasta With Garlic Butter is everything you want in a weeknight dinner.
It’s fast, easy, and incredibly satisfying.
One pot. 30 minutes. Zero complaints from anyone at the table.
Make it once and it’ll go straight into your regular rotation. Guaranteed.
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