Description
This Creamy Parmesan Beef Linguine with Garlic Butter Sauce is a comforting and flavorful pasta dish featuring tender ground beef in a rich, garlicky Parmesan cream sauce. Perfect for a satisfying weeknight dinner, it combines perfectly cooked linguine with a luscious sauce made from butter, garlic, onions, heavy cream, and freshly grated Parmesan cheese, seasoned with Italian herbs and a hint of spice.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Pasta
- 12 oz linguine pasta
For the Sauce and Beef
- 1 lb ground beef (80/20)
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp salt (adjust to taste)
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley or thyme, chopped (optional)
- 1/2 cup reserved pasta water (as needed)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the linguine and cook until al dente according to package instructions. Drain the pasta, reserving 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, and set aside.
- Sauté garlic and onions: In a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and finely diced onion and sauté until fragrant and translucent, about 3-4 minutes.
- Brown the beef: Add the ground beef to the skillet and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks. Season the beef with salt, ground black pepper, and Italian seasoning. Once cooked through, drain any excess fat from the pan.
- Prepare the cream sauce: Stir in the heavy cream and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Add the freshly grated Parmesan cheese along with the optional red pepper flakes. Let the sauce simmer for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally until it thickens slightly.
- Toss linguine with sauce: Add the cooked linguine to the skillet with the sauce, tossing gently to coat all the pasta. If the sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water a little at a time to loosen it to your desired consistency.
- Garnish and serve: Remove from heat and garnish with fresh chopped parsley or thyme. Serve immediately, optionally topping with extra Parmesan cheese and additional black pepper if desired.
Notes
- Reserve some pasta water before draining; it helps adjust the sauce consistency perfectly.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan for best flavor and smooth melting.
- Adjust red pepper flakes to your preferred spice level or omit for none.
- Drain excess fat after browning beef for a lighter sauce.
- Serve immediately to enjoy the creamy texture at its best.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Keywords: creamy parmesan beef linguine, garlic butter sauce, ground beef pasta, easy Italian pasta recipe, dinner recipes
