Description
Succulent cheesy beef and bowtie pasta in garlic butter delivers comfort on a plate, combining rich flavors and hearty ingredients. Simple yet satisfying, this dish invites you to savor each creamy, delicious bite with pure culinary joy.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 1 pound (450g) ground beef
Pasta:
- 12 ounces (340g) bowtie pasta (farfalle)
Seasonings and Aromatics:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Cheese:
- 1 cup (100g) shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup (50g) grated Parmesan cheese
Sauce Components:
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (240ml) milk (whole or 2%)
Garnish:
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Fill a spacious pot with salted water and bring to a rolling boil. Submerge bowtie pasta and cook until tender yet firm, following package guidance. Carefully extract a half-cup of starchy cooking liquid before draining the pasta and setting it aside.
- Warm olive oil in a generously sized skillet over medium temperature. Introduce ground beef, fragmenting the meat as it sizzles and browns thoroughly, approximately 5-7 minutes. Incorporate diced onions and minced garlic, sautéing until the onions become translucent and soft. Sprinkle Italian seasoning, optional red pepper flakes, and season with salt and pepper. Transfer the seasoned beef mixture to a separate plate.
- Utilize the same skillet to melt butter gently. Introduce minced garlic and toast briefly until aromatic. Dust flour into the melted butter, creating a smooth roux and stirring continuously for 1-2 minutes. Slowly stream milk into the mixture, whisking diligently to prevent lumps. Allow the sauce to simmer and thicken slightly, roughly 3 minutes.
- Reduce heat and fold mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses into the sauce until completely melted and silky. Reunite the cooked pasta and beef mixture with the creamy cheese sauce, ensuring every morsel is luxuriously coated. Should the sauce appear too dense, introduce reserved pasta water to achieve ideal consistency.
- Elegantly distribute the cheesy beef and bowtie pasta into serving dishes. Enhance the presentation by sprinkling fresh chopped parsley and additional Parmesan cheese as a final flourish.
Notes
- Customize pasta texture by cooking slightly firmer than package instructions for a perfect al dente bite that holds sauce beautifully.
- Drain pasta quickly to prevent overcooking, ensuring a delightful chewy consistency that pairs wonderfully with rich garlic butter sauce.
- Swap ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for a leaner or vegetarian version that maintains the dish’s robust flavor profile.
- Use whole wheat bowtie pasta to boost nutritional value and add a nutty undertone that complements the cheesy, garlicky sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 60g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 80mg