Description
Savory beef & parmesan tortellini delivers a luxurious Italian-inspired comfort meal that melts in your mouth. Creamy sauce and tender pasta combine perfectly, promising a delightful dining experience you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 1 pound (454 grams) ground beef
- 1 pound (454 grams) cheese tortellini (fresh or frozen)
Dairy and Cream Components:
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or butter
Herbs, Spices, and Aromatics:
- 1 small onion (diced)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- ½ cup beef broth
- ½ teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt (to taste)
- Black pepper (to taste)
- Fresh parsley (chopped, for garnish)
Instructions
- Fill a generously sized pot with water, season with salt, and bring to a rolling boil. Submerge the tortellini and cook until they float and reach al dente perfection, typically following package guidance. Carefully drain and reserve.
- Warm a spacious skillet with a drizzle of olive oil over medium heat. Introduce ground beef, breaking it into delicate crumbles while cooking until a rich golden-brown develops. Eliminate excess fat and temporarily set aside.
- In the same skillet, sauté diced onions and minced garlic, stirring continuously until they become translucent and release their aromatic essence, approximately 2-3 minutes.
- Deglaze the pan with beef broth, gently scraping accumulated flavor fragments from the skillet’s base. Incorporate heavy cream, grated Parmesan, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Allow the mixture to simmer gently, transforming into a luxuriously thickened sauce over 3-4 minutes.
- Reunite the cooked ground beef with the tortellini in the creamy sauce, tenderly folding to ensure comprehensive coating. Warm the ensemble for an additional 2-3 minutes, allowing flavors to harmonize.
- Present the dish adorned with freshly chopped parsley and an additional sprinkle of Parmesan. Accompany with crusty garlic bread or a crisp, verdant salad for a complete culinary experience.
Notes
- Customize tortellini by choosing fresh or frozen options, which can impact cooking time and texture.
- Select high-quality ground beef with moderate fat content for richer flavor and juicier results.
- Control sauce thickness by adjusting cream and broth quantities, ensuring smooth consistency without being too runny.
- Make the dish vegetarian-friendly by substituting ground beef with plant-based crumbles or roasted mushrooms for similar protein and umami profile.
- Reduce sodium by using low-sodium beef broth and controlling added salt during cooking process.
- Enhance meal’s nutritional value by incorporating additional vegetables like spinach, bell peppers, or zucchini during sautéing stage.
- Elevate dish’s complexity by experimenting with different cheese combinations like pecorino or asiago alongside Parmesan.
- Achieve perfect sauce texture by gradually adding cream and whisking continuously to prevent separation or curdling.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 670 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 40 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg