Cheesy Beef and Bowtie Pasta in Garlic Butter – Comfort Food at Its Best!

🎉 Introduction

If there’s one dish that captures the essence of comfort, it’s this Cheesy Beef and Bowtie Pasta in Garlic Butter. Loaded with perfectly seasoned ground beef, al dente bowtie pasta, and creamy garlic butter sauce, this dish is an instant weeknight classic.

Ready in about 30 minutes, this one-pot-style meal brings together simple pantry ingredients with bold flavor. It’s rich, hearty, cheesy — and kid-approved!

🧰 Equipment Needed

• Large pot for boiling pasta
• Large skillet or sauté pan
• Wooden spoon or spatula
• Cutting board and knife
• Grater for cheese
• Colander

🛒 Ingredients

🍝 Pasta & Meat:

• 12 oz bowtie pasta (farfalle)
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced

🧂 Seasonings & Herbs:

• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional for a kick)
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (plus extra for garnish)

🧈 Fats & Base:

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 3 tbsp unsalted butter
• 1 tbsp all-purpose flour

🧀 Cheese:

• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

👩‍🍳 Directions

Step 1: Cook the Pasta

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
2. Add bowtie pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.

Step 2: Sauté the Aromatics

1. In a large skillet over medium heat, add olive oil.
2. Sauté onions for 2–3 minutes until softened.
3. Add garlic and cook for another 30 seconds, until fragrant.

Step 3: Cook the Ground Beef

1. Add the ground beef to the skillet.
2. Cook until browned, breaking it apart with your spoon — about 6–8 minutes.
3. Season with Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper.

Step 4: Make the Garlic Butter Sauce

1. Push the beef to one side of the skillet. In the open space, melt the butter.
2. Sprinkle in the flour and whisk into the butter to form a roux (it helps thicken the sauce).
3. Mix the beef and butter roux together and cook for 1 more minute.

Step 5: Combine Everything

1. Add the drained pasta to the skillet with the beef.
2. Toss in mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, and chopped parsley.
3. Stir everything together until the cheese is melty and the sauce clings to the pasta.

🍽️ Servings & Timing

• Servings: 4–6
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Total Time: 30 minutes

🧊 Storage & Reheating

Refrigerator:

• Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

Freezer:

• You can freeze the cooked pasta for up to 2 months. Let it cool completely before storing.

Reheating:

• Reheat in a pan over low heat with a splash of water or milk to loosen the sauce.
• Microwave: 1–2 minutes, stirring halfway through.

🥄 Variations

• Add Veggies: Throw in spinach, mushrooms, or zucchini for more nutrition.
• Make it Spicy: Add more red pepper flakes or a splash of hot sauce.
• Use Ground Turkey or Chicken: Swap the beef for a lighter option.
• Creamier Version: Stir in ¼ cup of heavy cream or cream cheese.
• Pasta Swap: Use penne, rotini, or shells instead of bowties.
• Extra Cheesy: Top with shredded cheddar and broil for a bubbly finish.
• Garlic Lover’s Version: Add roasted garlic or garlic powder for a deeper garlic flavor.
• Herb Upgrade: Use fresh basil or thyme instead of parsley.
• Low Carb: Try with steamed cauliflower or spiralized zucchini.
• Baked Style: Transfer to a baking dish, sprinkle extra cheese, and bake at 375°F for 10–15 minutes.

❓ 10 FAQs

1. Can I make this ahead of time?
Yes! Prep and store it for up to 3–4 days in the fridge. Reheat gently when ready to serve.

2. What’s the best pasta for this dish?
Bowties (farfalle) are great because they hold onto the sauce, but you can use any short pasta.

3. Can I use pre-shredded cheese?
Yes, but fresh-shredded melts better and gives a creamier texture.

4. Is this freezer-friendly?
Definitely. Freeze in portioned containers and thaw overnight before reheating.

5. Can I use garlic powder instead of fresh garlic?
You can! Use about 1 tsp of garlic powder if you’re out of fresh garlic.

6. What can I serve this with?
A crisp salad, garlic bread, or roasted vegetables make great sides.

7. Is this kid-friendly?
Absolutely! Just reduce the red pepper flakes for sensitive palates.

8. Can I make this vegetarian?
Yes — omit the beef and use mushrooms or lentils for a meatless option.

9. How do I keep it from drying out when reheated?
Add a splash of milk or broth before reheating to bring back the creaminess.

10. What type of mozzarella should I use?
Low-moisture, part-skim shredded mozzarella is best for melty, gooey texture.

🏁 Conclusion

This Cheesy Beef and Bowtie Pasta in Garlic Butter is comfort food done right — quick to make, loaded with flavor, and loved by both kids and adults. Whether you’re serving it on a busy weeknight or doubling the batch for leftovers, it’s a dish that’s sure to please every time.

Adam

Cheesy Beef and Bowtie Pasta in Garlic Butter – Comfort Food at Its Best!

If there’s one dish that captures the essence of comfort, it’s this Cheesy Beef and Bowtie Pasta in Garlic Butter. Loaded with perfectly seasoned ground beef, al dente bowtie pasta, and creamy garlic butter sauce, this dish is an instant weeknight classic. Ready in about 30 minutes, this one-pot-style meal brings together simple pantry ingredients with bold flavor. It’s rich, hearty, cheesy — and kid-approved!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Servings: 6 servings

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

🍝 Pasta & Meat:

• 12 oz bowtie pasta farfalle
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 small onion finely chopped
• 4 cloves garlic minced

🧂 Seasonings & Herbs:

• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes optional for a kick
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley chopped (plus extra for garnish)

🧈 Fats & Base:

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 3 tbsp unsalted butter
• 1 tbsp all-purpose flour

🧀 Cheese:

• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Equipment

• Large pot (for boiling pasta)
• Large skillet or sauté pan
• Wooden spoon or spatula
• Cutting board and knife
• Grater (for cheese)
• Colander

Method

 

Step 1: Cook the Pasta

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
2. Add bowtie pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.

Step 2: Sauté the Aromatics

1. In a large skillet over medium heat, add olive oil.
2. Sauté onions for 2–3 minutes until softened.
3. Add garlic and cook for another 30 seconds, until fragrant.

Step 3: Cook the Ground Beef

1. Add the ground beef to the skillet.
2. Cook until browned, breaking it apart with your spoon — about 6–8 minutes.
3. Season with Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper.

Step 4: Make the Garlic Butter Sauce

1. Push the beef to one side of the skillet. In the open space, melt the butter.
2. Sprinkle in the flour and whisk into the butter to form a roux (it helps thicken the sauce).
3. Mix the beef and butter roux together and cook for 1 more minute.

Step 5: Combine Everything

1. Add the drained pasta to the skillet with the beef.
2. Toss in mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, and chopped parsley.
3. Stir everything together until the cheese is melty and the sauce clings to the pasta.

Notes

🧊 Storage & Reheating
Refrigerator:

Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

Freezer:

You can freeze the cooked pasta for up to 2 months. Let it cool completely before storing.

Reheating:

Reheat in a pan over low heat with a splash of water or milk to loosen the sauce.

Microwave: 1–2 minutes, stirring halfway through.

🥄 Variations
Add Veggies: Throw in spinach, mushrooms, or zucchini for more nutrition.

Make it Spicy: Add more red pepper flakes or a splash of hot sauce.

Use Ground Turkey or Chicken: Swap the beef for a lighter option.

Creamier Version: Stir in ¼ cup of heavy cream or cream cheese.

Pasta Swap: Use penne, rotini, or shells instead of bowties.

Extra Cheesy: Top with shredded cheddar and broil for a bubbly finish.

Garlic Lover’s Version: Add roasted garlic or garlic powder for a deeper garlic flavor.

Herb Upgrade: Use fresh basil or thyme instead of parsley.

Low Carb: Try with steamed cauliflower or spiralized zucchini.

Baked Style: Transfer to a baking dish, sprinkle extra cheese, and bake at 375°F for 10–15 minutes.

❓ 10 FAQs
1. Can I make this ahead of time?
Yes! Prep and store it for up to 3–4 days in the fridge. Reheat gently when ready to serve.

2. What’s the best pasta for this dish?
Bowties (farfalle) are great because they hold onto the sauce, but you can use any short pasta.

3. Can I use pre-shredded cheese?
Yes, but fresh-shredded melts better and gives a creamier texture.

4. Is this freezer-friendly?
Definitely. Freeze in portioned containers and thaw overnight before reheating.

5. Can I use garlic powder instead of fresh garlic?
You can! Use about 1 tsp of garlic powder if you’re out of fresh garlic.

6. What can I serve this with?
A crisp salad, garlic bread, or roasted vegetables make great sides.

7. Is this kid-friendly?
Absolutely! Just reduce the red pepper flakes for sensitive palates.

8. Can I make this vegetarian?
Yes — omit the beef and use mushrooms or lentils for a meatless option.

9. How do I keep it from drying out when reheated?
Add a splash of milk or broth before reheating to bring back the creaminess.

10. What type of mozzarella should I use?
Low-moisture, part-skim shredded mozzarella is best for melty, gooey texture.

🏁 Conclusion
This Cheesy Beef and Bowtie Pasta in Garlic Butter is comfort food done right — quick to make, loaded with flavor, and loved by both kids and adults. Whether you’re serving it on a busy weeknight or doubling the batch for leftovers, it’s a dish that’s sure to please every time.