One-Pot Creamy Beef and Garlic Butter Pasta – Easy Skillet Dinner with Ground Beef & Parmesan Sauce
This One-Pot Creamy Beef and Garlic Butter Pasta is the ultimate comfort food made easy! Featuring tender ground beef, a rich parmesan garlic butter cream sauce, and al dente pasta all cooked in one skillet, it’s the perfect family-friendly dinner for busy nights. With minimal cleanup and maximum flavor, this hearty dish is ready in under 30 minutes—ideal for meal prep or weeknight cravings!
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef preferably 85/15
- 6 cloves garlic minced
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 12 oz uncooked pasta penne, rotini, or shells work well
- 3 cups beef or chicken broth
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Chopped parsley for garnish, optional
Instructions
- Step 1: Brown the Beef and GarlicIn a large skillet or Dutch oven, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it up as it cooks. Stir in the garlic and sauté for 1–2 minutes until fragrant.
- Step 2: Add Pasta and BrothPour in the pasta, broth, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Stir well and bring to a simmer.
- Step 3: Simmer Until Pasta Is CookedCover and simmer for 10–12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed.
- Step 4: Stir in Cream and ParmesanLower the heat and stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, heavy cream, and Parmesan cheese. Mix until everything is combined and creamy.
- Step 5: Garnish and ServeTaste and adjust seasoning if needed. Garnish with parsley and more Parmesan if desired. Serve hot.
Notes
Secret Tips for the Best One-Pot Creamy Beef and Garlic Butter Pasta
1. Brown the beef deeply for flavor:Don’t rush the browning—letting the ground beef sear in the skillet adds incredible depth to your creamy garlic butter pasta. That caramelized beef crust? It builds the base of the sauce's richness. 2. Deglaze with broth or pasta water:
After browning the beef, use a splash of beef broth or pasta water to scrape up those browned bits. It enhances your one-pot beef pasta with savory umami that tastes like it simmered for hours. 3. Use fresh garlic over powdered:
For a bold garlic butter flavor, freshly minced garlic makes a huge difference. Sauté it right in the butter before adding cream for maximum aroma and flavor in your creamy ground beef pasta. 4. Add pasta uncooked to the pot:
Toss dry pasta straight into the skillet with the sauce. It cooks in the same pot, soaks up the garlic-parmesan flavor, and cuts cleanup in half—a true one-pot pasta hack! 5. Finish with cheese off-heat:
Once your creamy beef pasta is cooked, stir in the grated parmesan off the heat. This prevents the cheese from getting gritty and keeps your garlic butter parmesan sauce silky smooth. 6. Meal prep bonus:
This dish reheats beautifully! Add a splash of milk or broth when reheating to restore that luscious creamy texture—perfect for meal prep pasta recipes that don’t taste like leftovers. 7. Swap the protein or spice it up:
Not a ground beef fan? Try ground turkey or Italian sausage. Want heat? Toss in crushed red pepper or a splash of hot sauce for a spicy garlic butter beef pasta variation.