Description
Get ready for the ultimate comfort meal with this Creamy Garlic Butter Beef Penne with Sausage and Spinach. A rich garlic butter sauce coats tender penne pasta, savory ground beef, and flavorful sausage, while fresh spinach adds a pop of color and balance. It's a quick dinner idea that tastes like a gourmet experience, perfect for cozy nights or easy entertaining. Whether you're searching for easy dinner ideas, creamy pasta recipes, or hearty food ideas, this dish is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Fast to prep, family-friendly, and packed with flavor—it checks all the boxes!
Ingredients
1 pound penne pasta
1 tablespoon salt (for pasta water)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound ground beef
½ pound Italian sausage (mild or spicy)
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
5 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
3 cups fresh spinach
½ teaspoon salt (for sauce)
½ teaspoon black pepper
¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook penne until al dente, then drain and reserve ½ cup of pasta water.
2. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat olive oil. Add ground beef and cook until browned.
3. Add Italian sausage to the skillet and cook until fully browned, breaking it up as it cooks. Drain excess fat if needed.
4. Push meat to one side of the pan. Add butter to the empty side, melt it, then stir in the minced garlic. Sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
5. Pour in the heavy cream, stir, and let it simmer on medium heat for 3–4 minutes to slightly thicken.
6. Stir in grated Parmesan until melted into the sauce.
7. Add fresh spinach and cook for 1–2 minutes until wilted. Season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
8. Add cooked penne to the skillet and toss until fully coated. If the sauce is too thick, add some reserved pasta water.
9. Serve immediately, topped with extra Parmesan and fresh black pepper if desired.
Notes
Use freshly grated Parmesan for the smoothest sauce—it melts much better than pre-shredded.
Always save some pasta water; it’s the secret to adjusting sauce consistency without thinning the flavor.
If using frozen spinach, thaw and squeeze out moisture before adding it to avoid a watery sauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (approx 1.5 cups)
- Calories: 620
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 36g
- Saturated Fat: 16g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
Keywords: creamy pasta, garlic butter penne, easy dinner, one-pot pasta, quick meal, sausage and spinach pasta