Description
Savory beef penne pasta blends Italian comfort with hearty flavors. Rich sauce and tender meat create a satisfying meal that connects family and friends around the dinner table.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (450g) ground beef
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 12 oz (340g) penne pasta
- 1 ½ cups heavy cream
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
- ½ tsp smoked paprika (optional, for extra depth of flavor)
- Fresh parsley or basil, chopped
- Extra Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Bring a large pot of salted water to a vigorous boil, submerge penne pasta, and cook until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Meat Searing: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Introduce ground beef, fragmenting it into fine pieces and browning thoroughly. Drain excess fat.
- Aromatics Infusion: Add diced onions and minced garlic, sautéing until fragrant and translucent. Sprinkle Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes, stirring to distribute evenly.
- Sauce Development: Pour beef broth, heavy cream, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, and paprika into the skillet. Simmer for 5 minutes, allowing flavors to meld and intensify.
- Cheese Integration: Incorporate Parmesan cheese, stirring until the sauce transforms into a smooth, creamy consistency.
- Final Assembly: Introduce cooked pasta to the sauce, gently tossing to ensure complete coverage. Allow the mixture to bubble for 2 minutes, enabling pasta to absorb the rich, savory essence.
- Garnish and Serve: Conclude by sprinkling fresh parsley and additional Parmesan cheese over the dish, creating a vibrant and appetizing presentation.
Notes
- Prevent Pasta Overcooking: Test pasta’s doneness 1-2 minutes before package instructions to maintain perfect al dente texture.
- Control Meat Browning: Use high heat and avoid stirring too frequently to achieve deep, caramelized flavor without steaming the ground beef.
- Manage Sauce Consistency: Simmer sauce gently to prevent separation and allow cream to thicken naturally without breaking.
- Cheese Melting Technique: Remove skillet from heat before adding Parmesan to prevent grainy texture and ensure smooth, silky sauce integration.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 40g
- Saturated Fat: 20g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 110mg