Cheesy Penne with Garlic Butter Ground Beef – Comfort in Every Bite

A hearty, cheesy pasta dish featuring tender penne, savory ground beef, and rich garlic butter sauce—all made in under 30 minutes!

🎉 Introduction

If you’re craving a quick and comforting meal that hits all the right notes—savory, cheesy, garlicky—then this Cheesy Penne with Garlic Butter Ground Beef is the answer. It’s the kind of one-pan pasta magic that feels indulgent but is easy enough for any weeknight dinner. 🍝✨

With layers of flavor from garlic butter and Italian spices, this dish is meaty, melty, and impossible to resist. Plus, it’s a total crowd-pleaser that even picky eaters will devour!

🛒 Ingredients

(Serves 4–6)

🍝 Pasta & Meat

• 12 oz penne pasta
• 1 lb ground beef (lean or 80/20)
• 1 tbsp olive oil (if needed)

🧄 Garlic Butter Sauce

• 4 tbsp unsalted butter
• 4–5 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• ½ tsp paprika
• Salt and pepper, to taste

🧀 Cheese & Cream

• 1 cup shredded mozzarella
• ½ cup shredded cheddar
• ¼ cup grated Parmesan
• ½ cup heavy cream or half & half
• ¼ cup pasta water (reserved)

🌿 Garnish (Optional)

• Fresh parsley or basil
• Red pepper flakes
• Extra Parmesan

👩‍🍳 Directions

Step 1: Cook the Penne

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
2. Cook penne until al dente according to package instructions.
3. Drain, reserving ¼ cup of pasta water.

Step 2: Brown the Beef

1. In a large skillet, heat olive oil (if using) over medium heat.
2. Add ground beef, breaking it up as it cooks.
3. Season with salt, pepper, and paprika.
4. Cook until browned and cooked through (about 7–8 minutes).
5. Remove beef and set aside.

Step 3: Make the Garlic Butter Sauce

1. In the same skillet, melt butter over medium-low heat.
2. Add minced garlic and Italian seasoning.
3. Sauté 1–2 minutes until fragrant, stirring often.

Step 4: Combine Everything

1. Return beef to the skillet with garlic butter.
2. Stir in cooked pasta, heavy cream, and reserved pasta water.
3. Add mozzarella, cheddar, and Parmesan.
4. Stir gently over low heat until cheese is fully melted and sauce coats the pasta.

Step 5: Garnish and Serve

1. Sprinkle with chopped parsley or basil.
2. Serve hot with extra cheese and red pepper flakes, if desired.

🍽️ Servings & Timing

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

🥄 Variations

• Spicy Kick: Add chili flakes or hot sauce to the garlic butter
• Veggie Add-In: Stir in spinach, mushrooms, or roasted bell peppers
• Baked Version: Top with extra cheese and broil for 2–3 minutes
• Ground Turkey/Chicken: Use instead of beef for a lighter version
• Creamy Alfredo Style: Add more cream and Parmesan for a richer base

🧊 Storage & Reheating

• Fridge: Store in airtight container up to 4 days
• Freezer: Freeze portions in containers for up to 2 months
• Reheat: Microwave with a splash of milk or reheat in a skillet with a bit of cream to loosen sauce

❓ 10 FAQs

1. Can I use another pasta?
   Yes—rigatoni, rotini, or fusilli all work great.
2. Can I make this ahead?
   Yes! Assemble and reheat with a splash of cream before serving.
3. Can I skip the heavy cream?
   Use milk and a bit more cheese, or substitute with half and half.
4. What cheese works best?
   Mozzarella for meltiness, cheddar for sharpness, Parmesan for richness.
5. Can I make it in one pot?
   Yes—use an oven-safe skillet or Dutch oven for both pasta and sauce.
6. Is this kid-friendly?
   Definitely—kids love the cheesy goodness!
7. How can I make it less rich?
   Use lean meat, less cheese, and swap cream for milk.
8. Can I make it vegetarian?
   Yes—omit beef and add roasted veggies or plant-based meat.
9. What protein can I use instead?
   Italian sausage, ground chicken, or tofu crumbles work well.
10. Does it work as a freezer meal?
    Absolutely—freeze in portions and reheat when needed.

🏁 Conclusion

This Cheesy Penne with Garlic Butter Ground Beef is everything comfort food should be: creamy, savory, satisfying, and easy enough to make on a busy night. With bold garlic butter flavor and melt-in-your-mouth cheese, it’s sure to become a staple in your pasta night rotation. 🍝🧄🧀

Grab a fork, dig in, and enjoy every cheesy, beefy bite!

Adam

Cheesy Penne with Garlic Butter Ground Beef – Comfort in Every Bite

If you’re craving a quick and comforting meal that hits all the right notes—savory, cheesy, garlicky—then this Cheesy Penne with Garlic Butter Ground Beef is the answer. It’s the kind of one-pan pasta magic that feels indulgent but is easy enough for any weeknight dinner. 🍝✨ With layers of flavor from garlic butter and Italian spices, this dish is meaty, melty, and impossible to resist. Plus, it’s a total crowd-pleaser that even picky eaters will devour!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Servings: 6 servings

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• Serves 4–6

🍝 Pasta & Meat

• 12 oz penne pasta
• 1 lb ground beef lean or 80/20
• 1 tbsp olive oil if needed
• 🧄 Garlic Butter Sauce
• 4 tbsp unsalted butter
• 4 –5 cloves garlic minced
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• ½ tsp paprika
• Salt and pepper to taste

🧀 Cheese & Cream

• 1 cup shredded mozzarella
• ½ cup shredded cheddar
• ¼ cup grated Parmesan
• ½ cup heavy cream or half & half
• ¼ cup pasta water reserved

🌿 Garnish (Optional)

• Fresh parsley or basil
• Red pepper flakes
• Extra Parmesan

Method

 

Step 1: Cook the Penne

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
2. Cook penne until al dente according to package instructions.
3. Drain, reserving ¼ cup of pasta water.

Step 2: Brown the Beef

1. In a large skillet, heat olive oil (if using) over medium heat.
2. Add ground beef, breaking it up as it cooks.
3. Season with salt, pepper, and paprika.
4. Cook until browned and cooked through (about 7–8 minutes).
5. Remove beef and set aside.

Step 3: Make the Garlic Butter Sauce

1. In the same skillet, melt butter over medium-low heat.
2. Add minced garlic and Italian seasoning.
3. Sauté 1–2 minutes until fragrant, stirring often.

Step 4: Combine Everything

1. Return beef to the skillet with garlic butter.
2. Stir in cooked pasta, heavy cream, and reserved pasta water.
3. Add mozzarella, cheddar, and Parmesan.
4. Stir gently over low heat until cheese is fully melted and sauce coats the pasta.

Step 5: Garnish and Serve

1. Sprinkle with chopped parsley or basil.
2. Serve hot with extra cheese and red pepper flakes, if desired.

Notes

🥄 Variations
Spicy Kick: Add chili flakes or hot sauce to the garlic butter

Veggie Add-In: Stir in spinach, mushrooms, or roasted bell peppers

Baked Version: Top with extra cheese and broil for 2–3 minutes

Ground Turkey/Chicken: Use instead of beef for a lighter version

Creamy Alfredo Style: Add more cream and Parmesan for a richer base

🧊 Storage & Reheating
Fridge: Store in airtight container up to 4 days

Freezer: Freeze portions in containers for up to 2 months

Reheat: Microwave with a splash of milk or reheat in a skillet with a bit of cream to loosen sauce

❓ 10 FAQs
Can I use another pasta?
Yes—rigatoni, rotini, or fusilli all work great.

Can I make this ahead?
Yes! Assemble and reheat with a splash of cream before serving.

Can I skip the heavy cream?
Use milk and a bit more cheese, or substitute with half and half.

What cheese works best?
Mozzarella for meltiness, cheddar for sharpness, Parmesan for richness.

Can I make it in one pot?
Yes—use an oven-safe skillet or Dutch oven for both pasta and sauce.

Is this kid-friendly?
Definitely—kids love the cheesy goodness!

How can I make it less rich?
Use lean meat, less cheese, and swap cream for milk.

Can I make it vegetarian?
Yes—omit beef and add roasted veggies or plant-based meat.

What protein can I use instead?
Italian sausage, ground chicken, or tofu crumbles work well.

Does it work as a freezer meal?
Absolutely—freeze in portions and reheat when needed.

🏁 Conclusion
This Cheesy Penne with Garlic Butter Ground Beef is everything comfort food should be: creamy, savory, satisfying, and easy enough to make on a busy night. With bold garlic butter flavor and melt-in-your-mouth cheese, it’s sure to become a staple in your pasta night rotation. 🍝🧄🧀

Grab a fork, dig in, and enjoy every cheesy, beefy bite!