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Quick Creamy Parmesan Ground Beef Pasta Skillet

Quick Creamy Parmesan Ground Beef Pasta Skillet - featured image
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A quick and easy one-skillet dinner featuring ground beef, pasta, and a creamy Parmesan sauce made without heavy cream. Perfect for cozy weeknight meals with minimal cleanup.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ground beef (80/20)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • 8 ounces uncooked short pasta (penne or rotini)
  • 2 cups beef broth (preferably low sodium)
  • 1 cup milk (whole or 2%)
  • 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (optional)

Instructions

  1. Heat a large 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat and add 1 tablespoon olive oil. Warm until shimmering, about 1-2 minutes.
  2. Add 1 pound ground beef to the skillet. Break it up with a wooden spoon and cook until browned and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Remove excess fat if needed but leave a bit for flavor.
  3. Push the beef to one side of the skillet. Add the chopped onion and cook until translucent, about 4 minutes. Add minced garlic and Italian seasoning, stirring for 1 minute until fragrant. Avoid burning the garlic.
  4. Pour in 8 ounces uncooked pasta, then add 2 cups beef broth and 1 cup milk. Stir well, scraping the bottom of the pan to loosen browned bits.
  5. Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and cover with a lid. Simmer gently for 12-15 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes to prevent sticking and check pasta doneness. Pasta should be tender with a slight bite.
  6. Remove lid and stir in 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese until melted and creamy. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed.
  7. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and serve hot straight from the skillet.

Notes

Keep an eye on the liquid level while simmering; add more broth or water if it looks dry. Use freshly grated Parmesan for best flavor. Let ground beef brown without stirring too often for better caramelization. Covering the pan traps steam and cooks pasta evenly. For gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta and broth. Dairy-free options include almond or oat milk and nutritional yeast instead of Parmesan.

Nutrition

Keywords: ground beef pasta, creamy pasta skillet, quick dinner, one-pan meal, Parmesan pasta, easy weeknight dinner

Find it online: https://gleamgulp.com/quick-creamy-parmesan-ground-beef-pasta-skillet-recipe-easy-dinner-idea/