Description
A creamy and flavorful Beef and Rotini pasta dish cooked in a rich garlic Parmesan sauce. This quick skillet recipe combines browned ground beef, tender rotini pasta, and a luscious homemade sauce with garlic, Parmesan cheese, and Italian seasoning for a comforting meal ready in just 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 ounces rotini pasta
Meat
- 1 pound ground beef (or ground turkey/chicken for a lighter alternative)
Sauce
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups milk
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or butter
Garnish
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the rotini pasta and cook according to the package instructions, usually 9-11 minutes, until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining the pasta.
- Brown the Beef: Heat olive oil or butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef, breaking it up into small pieces as it cooks. Brown the beef for 5-7 minutes until fully cooked through. Drain excess fat and set the beef aside.
- Sauté the Garlic: In the same skillet, add the minced garlic and sauté over medium heat for about 1 minute, stirring constantly. Be careful not to burn the garlic as it can turn bitter.
- Create the Sauce: Sprinkle the flour over the garlic and beef mixture, stirring to combine evenly. Gradually add the milk while stirring continuously to prevent lumps. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer and cook for 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens.
- Add Cheese and Seasoning: Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese followed by Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper to taste. Continue cooking for 1-2 minutes until the cheese is fully melted and the sauce is creamy.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the drained rotini pasta to the skillet, tossing the pasta thoroughly in the sauce until it is well coated. If the sauce seems too thick, gradually add the reserved pasta water, one tablespoon at a time, until you reach the desired consistency.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle freshly chopped parsley over the dish and serve immediately while warm.
Notes
- You can substitute ground beef with ground turkey or chicken for a lighter version.
- Reserve some pasta water to adjust the sauce consistency if it thickens too much.
- Make sure not to burn the garlic to avoid bitterness in the sauce.
- For a richer taste, you can use half-and-half instead of milk.
- Adding extra Parmesan on top before serving enhances the flavor.
