Description
Creamy Parmesan Beef Linguine with Garlic Butter Sauce is a rich and comforting pasta dish featuring al dente linguine tossed in a luscious sauce made from browned ground beef, garlic, onions, heavy cream, and freshly grated Parmesan cheese. This easy-to-make recipe delivers a perfect balance of savory flavors with a hint of Italian seasoning, making it ideal for a satisfying weeknight meal or casual dinner with family and friends.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 oz linguine pasta
Beef and Sauce
- 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)
- 1/2 cup reserved pasta water (as needed)
Garnish
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley or thyme, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the Linguine: 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 water for later use, and set the pasta aside.
- Sauté Garlic and Onion: In a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of the unsalted butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and finely diced yellow onion. Sauté until fragrant and the onions become translucent, about 3-4 minutes.
- Brown the Ground Beef: Add the ground beef to the skillet and cook, breaking it apart with a spoon, until fully browned and no pink remains. Season with salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning. Drain any excess fat from the skillet to avoid greasiness.
- Prepare the Cream Sauce: Stir in the heavy cream and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Gradually add the freshly grated Parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes if using. Continue simmering for 4-5 minutes until the sauce thickens and becomes creamy.
- Toss Linguine with Sauce: Add the cooked linguine directly into the skillet with the creamy beef sauce. Toss gently to combine and coat the pasta evenly with the sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water gradually until your desired consistency is achieved.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from heat and garnish with fresh chopped parsley or thyme if desired. Serve immediately, optionally topped with extra Parmesan cheese and freshly cracked black pepper for enhanced flavor.
Notes
- Reserve pasta water carefully as it helps loosen and emulsify the sauce for a silky texture.
- You can adjust the amount of red pepper flakes or omit them altogether depending on your spice preference.
- For a richer sauce, use full-fat heavy cream.
- Make sure to drain excess fat after browning the beef to keep the sauce from becoming too greasy.
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese melts better and gives a more authentic flavor than pre-grated varieties.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: Creamy Parmesan Beef Linguine, Garlic Butter Sauce Pasta, Ground Beef Pasta, Easy Italian Dinner Recipe, Weeknight Linguine
