Description
Looking for a comforting and flavor-packed dinner that’s quick to whip up? This Cheesy Penne Pasta with Garlic Beef has it all – savory meat, creamy sauce, and melty cheese that makes every bite satisfying.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound of penne pasta (or use rigatoni/ziti)
- 1 pound of ground beef
- 3 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes, drained
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (or mozzarella for a twist)
- 1 cup heavy cream (or half-and-half)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Cook penne pasta in a pot of salted boiling water until al dente. Drain and set aside, saving ½ cup of pasta water.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Sauté diced onions until translucent, then add garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Add ground beef, break it up, season with salt and pepper, and cook until browned (5–7 minutes).
- Stir in diced tomatoes and heavy cream. Let simmer for 5 minutes. Add reserved pasta water if the sauce is too thick.
- Combine the pasta with the beef sauce mixture and stir to coat.
- Top with shredded cheddar cheese, cover, and let cook for 2 minutes until the cheese melts.
- Garnish with chopped parsley and serve hot.
Notes
Swap ground beef with turkey or chicken for a lighter version. Play around with cheeses – a mix of mozzarella and cheddar works beautifully. This reheats well for meal prep too!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 580mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
Keywords: cheesy penne pasta, garlic beef pasta, easy pasta recipe, comfort food, skillet dinner