Parmesan Garlic Beef Bowtie Pasta
A creamy, comforting pasta dish featuring bowtie pasta, savory ground beef, and a luscious garlic parmesan sauce. This easy weeknight dinner comes together in under 40 minutes and is sure to be a family favorite.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz (340g) bowtie pasta (farfalle)
- Salt (for pasta water and seasoning)
- 1 lb (450g) ground beef (85% lean preferred)
- 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
- 4 cloves fresh garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese (plus extra for serving)
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning (optional)
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add bowtie pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente (about 10-12 minutes). Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water before draining. Set pasta aside.
- While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef, season with salt and pepper, and cook until browned and no longer pink (about 6-7 minutes). Drain excess fat if needed.
- Stir in diced onion and cook for 2-3 minutes until soft. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
- Reduce heat to medium-low. Add butter and let it melt. Pour in heavy cream and milk. Stir in Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes if using. Simmer for 2-3 minutes.
- Gradually stir in parmesan cheese, a handful at a time, until melted and sauce is smooth. If sauce is too thick, add a splash of reserved pasta water.
- Add drained pasta to the skillet and toss to coat in the sauce. Add more pasta water if needed to reach desired consistency.
- Off the heat, stir in chopped parsley. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed. Serve hot with extra parmesan on top.
Notes
For best results, use freshly grated parmesan cheese for a smooth sauce. Reserve some pasta water to adjust sauce consistency. The sauce thickens as it sits, so add a splash of milk or pasta water when reheating leftovers. To make gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta. For a lighter version, substitute half-and-half for heavy cream or use ground turkey instead of beef.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1/6th of recipe (approx. 1 1/2 cups)
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 540
- Fat: 26
- Saturated Fat: 13
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 28
Keywords: parmesan garlic pasta, beef bowtie pasta, creamy pasta, easy dinner, family recipe, Italian pasta, comfort food, weeknight meal