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Healthy Ground Beef Recipes - Quick Creamy Pasta Dinner Idea

A cozy, creamy, Italian-inspired ground beef pasta perfect for fall evenings. This comforting dish blends savory beef, velvety cream, and Parmesan into a warm, satisfying meal ready in just 35 minutes.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Italian-American
Calories: 620
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 8 oz penne pasta
  • 1 lb lean ground beef
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 medium onion diced
  • 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tsp Italian seasoning
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 tsp olive oil

Method
 

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook penne pasta until al dente, about 8–10 minutes. Drain and reserve 1 cup of pasta water.
  2. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add diced onion and minced garlic; sauté 5 minutes until fragrant and softened.
  3. Add ground beef to the skillet. Brown for 7 minutes, breaking it apart until no pink remains. Season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Drain excess fat if needed.
  4. Reduce heat to medium-low. Pour in heavy cream and slowly add 1/2 cup reserved pasta water. Stir in Parmesan cheese until sauce becomes smooth and creamy.
  5. Add cooked pasta to the skillet and toss gently to coat. Add additional pasta water as needed to reach desired consistency. Serve hot, garnished with extra Parmesan.

Notes

Reserve pasta water for a silky sauce. Grate Parmesan fresh for best melt. Add spinach for extra nutrition.