Description
This high-protein creamy beef pasta blends tender beef, savory spices, and a luscious cream sauce, creating a comforting and wholesome dish perfect for weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz. pasta (like penne or fusilli)
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup broccoli florets (optional)
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Start by bringing a large pot of water to boil. Once it’s bubbling, add a pinch of salt, and toss in your pasta. Cook according to package instructions until al dente, usually about 8–10 minutes.
- While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onions and cook them until they become soft and translucent, roughly 5 minutes.
- Next, add minced garlic to the skillet. Sauté it for about 1 minute, then toss in the lean ground beef. Use a spatula to break it apart, cooking until browned.
- Once your beef is browned, drain any excess fat from the skillet, if necessary. Pour in the beef broth and heavy cream. Stir well and let simmer for about 5 minutes.
- If you’re adding broccoli, now’s the time. Toss in the florets and let them cook alongside the sauce for an additional 3-4 minutes.
- Once the sauce has thickened slightly, stir in the cooked pasta, followed by Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper to taste. Sprinkle in the Parmesan cheese, stirring until it melts.
- Remove from heat and serve hot, garnished with extra cheese or herbs if you like. Enjoy!
Notes
For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with Greek yogurt. To make a vegetarian option, replace ground beef with mushrooms or lentils.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 90mg