Cheesy Penne with Beef (Print Version)

# Ingredients:

→ Main Ingredients

01 - Penne pasta
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 pound ground beef
04 - Cloves of garlic, minced
05 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
06 - 1 teaspoon onion powder
07 - 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
08 - 1 teaspoon black pepper
09 - 1 teaspoon salt
10 - 1 cup unsalted butter
11 - 1/2 cups heavy cream
12 - 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
13 - 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
14 - 1 cup chopped fresh parsley

# Instructions:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the penne pasta to the boiling water and cook according to the package instructions until al dente, typically around 9-11 minutes.
02 - While the pasta cooks, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the olive oil. Once the oil is hot, add the ground beef to the skillet. Break up the ground beef with a spatula or wooden spoon as it cooks, stirring occasionally. Cook the beef for about 5-7 minutes, or until it is fully browned and no longer pink.
03 - Add the minced garlic to the browned beef and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent burning. Sprinkle the garlic powder, onion powder, crushed red pepper flakes, black pepper, and salt over the beef and garlic, stirring well to combine. Continue to cook the mixture for another minute to allow the spices to toast and release their aroma.
04 - Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the butter to the skillet with the beef mixture. Allow the butter to melt completely, stirring to mix it with the seasoned beef. Pour the heavy cream into the skillet and stir until the cream is fully incorporated into the beef mixture. Let the cream heat through, allowing the sauce to simmer gently for 3-4 minutes.
05 - Add the shredded mozzarella cheese to the skillet, stirring until the cheese melts and the sauce becomes smooth and creamy. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese and continue stirring until the cheese has fully melted and the sauce is thickened. If the sauce is too thick, add a bit of the reserved pasta water, a tablespoon at a time, until you reach the desired consistency.
06 - Add the cooked penne pasta to the skillet with the cheese sauce, stirring gently to coat the pasta evenly. Once the pasta is well coated, remove the skillet from the heat.
07 - Sprinkle the chopped parsley over the top of the cheesy penne. Serve immediately while hot, garnished with extra Parmesan if desired.

# Notes:

01 - To prevent the garlic from burning, add it after the beef is browned and cook it on lower heat.
02 - For a spicier dish, increase the amount of crushed red pepper flakes or add a dash of cayenne pepper.
03 - Reserve pasta water to adjust the sauce's consistency if needed, but be careful not to add too much.
04 - You can substitute ground beef with ground turkey or chicken for a lighter version.
05 - For extra flavor, sprinkle some extra grated Parmesan on top before serving.

Back