Description
This creamy cheesy garlic butter rigatoni with savory beef is the ultimate comfort food for your next weeknight dinner or cozy weekend meal. Featuring a velvety garlic butter sauce, perfectly browned beef, and melty mozzarella, it’s the kind of quick dinner recipe that tastes like it took hours. Whether you’re looking for easy dinner ideas, pasta dishes for the family, or rich and hearty food ideas, this one-pan dish is a must-try. Great for lovers of garlic, cheese, and hearty beef recipes, and perfect when you need a satisfying yet easy recipe.
Ingredients
12 oz rigatoni pasta
1 lb ground beef (80/20 preferred)
3 tbsp butter
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup heavy cream
1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
½ cup grated parmesan cheese
½ tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
1 tsp Italian seasoning
2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (optional)
½ cup reserved pasta water
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the rigatoni and cook until just shy of al dente. Drain and reserve ½ cup of pasta water.
2. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef, breaking it up until browned. Season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Drain excess fat and set aside.
3. In the same pan, melt butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for 1–2 minutes until fragrant.
4. Pour in the heavy cream and stir. Let it simmer for 3–4 minutes until slightly thickened.
5. Lower the heat and stir in mozzarella and parmesan cheese until fully melted and smooth. Add a splash of reserved pasta water if needed.
6. Return the cooked beef and pasta to the skillet. Toss everything to coat well in the sauce.
7. Let it cook for another 2–3 minutes so flavors meld together.
8. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately.
Notes
Always reserve pasta water—it helps smooth and loosen the sauce.
Use freshly grated cheese for the best melt and flavor.
Let garlic gently cook in butter; avoid browning to prevent bitterness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 620
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 480mg
- Fat: 36g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 105mg
Keywords: quick dinner, easy recipe, garlic butter pasta, cheesy rigatoni, beef pasta, comfort food, weeknight meal