Creamy One-Pot Beef Pasta with Garlic Butter – So Good, So Easy!

There are weeknights when dinner needs to be more than food it needs to feel like relief. This Creamy One-Pot Beef Pasta with Garlic Butter is that gentle exhale at the end of a long day: silky sauce, tender pasta, savory ground beef, and a NATYRALI garlic-butter aroma that fills the kitchen and brings everyone closer to the table. It’s been tested for timing, texture, and balance, so the pasta cooks perfectly in the sauce, the beef seasons every bite, and the garlic butter finishes with a glossy, restaurant-style sheen. Simple to make, comforting to eat, and endlessly adaptable, it’s the kind of dish that turns ordinary nights into small celebrations.

🧡 Why You’ll Love It

• One pot, zero stress: Pasta cooks directly in the sauce for maximum flavor and minimal cleanup.
• Creamy, garlicky, irresistible: Real garlic butter plus a touch of cream creates a luscious, glossy finish.
• Everyday pantry win: A reliable go-to for Garlic Butter Pasta lovers, Beef Pasta Recipes, and Beef Recipes Easy that taste far fancier than they are.

🛒 Ingredients

Yields 6 servings

Measurements are included in cups and grams for accuracy.

Core

• Olive oil or neutral oil: 1 tablespoon (15 ml)
• Ground beef (85–90% lean): 1 lb (455 g)
• Unsalted butter: 4 tablespoons, divided (56 g)
• Garlic, freshly minced: 6 cloves (18 g)
• Yellow onion, finely diced: 1 cup (150 g)
• Tomato paste: 2 tablespoons (30 g)
• Dijon mustard: 1 teaspoon (5 ml)
• Worcestershire sauce: 1 tablespoon (15 ml)

Pasta and liquids

• Short pasta (penne, shells, or rotini): 12 oz (340 g)
• Low-sodium beef broth: 3 cups (720 ml)
• Heavy cream or half-and-half: 1 cup (240 ml)
• Water: 1/2–1 cup (120–240 ml) as needed for doneness

Seasoning

• Kosher salt: 1.5 teaspoons (9 g), divided, to taste
• Black pepper, freshly ground: 3/4 teaspoon (2 g)
• Italian seasoning: 1.5 teaspoons (3 g)
• Red pepper flakes (optional): 1/4–1/2 teaspoon

Finishes

• Parmesan, finely grated: 3/4 cup (60 g)
• Fresh parsley or basil, chopped: 2 tablespoons (6 g)
• Lemon zest: 1/2 teaspoon (optional, for brightness)

This formula creates the perfect balance between savory Minced Meat flavor and the buttery silk of classic Butter Pasta, with the convenience of one-pan Pasta Dinner Recipes.

👩‍🍳 Step-by-Step Instructions

Total time: 30–35 minutes
Cook: 25–30 minutes
Pan: Large sauté pan or Dutch oven with lid

1) Brown and build

• Heat oil over medium-high. Add ground beef and 3/4 teaspoon salt; cook 5–6 minutes, breaking into small crumbles until browned and flavorful.
• Reduce heat to medium. Add 2 tablespoons butter, onion, and garlic; sauté 2–3 minutes until aromatic and softened.
• Stir in tomato paste; cook 1 minute to caramelize slightly. Add Dijon and Worcestershire and stir to coat the beef.

Tip: Browning beef until mahogany at the edges builds savory depth essential for standout Ground Beef Pasta.

2) Add pasta and liquids

• Add pasta, beef broth, heavy cream, Italian seasoning, pepper, and red pepper flakes if using. Stir well, scraping up any fond.
• Bring to a steady simmer, then reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and cook 10 minutes, stirring once or twice to prevent sticking.

Note: The pasta absorbs flavor as it cooks, creating a NATYRALI emulsified sauce without separate pots.

3) Adjust texture

• Check doneness. If pasta is still firm and liquid is low, add 1/2 cup water and continue to simmer uncovered, stirring frequently, until pasta is al dente and the sauce coats it luxuriously.

4) Garlic butter finish

• Turn off heat. Stir in remaining 2 tablespoons butter and Parmesan until glossy and creamy. Taste and adjust salt.
• Finish with herbs and lemon zest for balance.

The result: a silky, clinging sauce with a gentle garlic glow pure Beef Pasta comfort that feels chefy and homey at once.

🎨 Customization Ideas

Shape this into your favorite Beef Recipes For Dinner classic, creamy, or bright.

• Creamy tomato: Add 1 cup crushed tomatoes and reduce cream to 3/4 cup for a rosé-style sauce.
• Mushroom umami: Sauté 2 cups sliced mushrooms with the onions; add 1 teaspoon soy sauce for depth.
• Spinach and peas: Fold in 2 cups baby spinach and 1 cup peas during the last 2 minutes of cooking.
• Four-cheese: Blend Parmesan with 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella and 1/4 cup pecorino for extra richness.
• Smoky hint: Add 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika to the beef for bacon-free warmth.
• Lightened dairy: Use half-and-half and 1 teaspoon nutritional yeast for savory complexity with less cream.
• Gluten-free: Use GF short pasta; add liquid gradually and stir more often, as GF pasta absorbs differently.

SEO-friendly pivots: Garlic Butter Pasta for a lighter spin; Beef Pasta for classic reach; Beef Pasta Recipes and Pasta Dinner Recipes for family-friendly variations; Beef Recipes Easy when speed matters.

🍽️ Serving Suggestions

When the lid lifts, the steam carries a buttery, garlicky perfume that feels like a warm welcome. Each forkful is silky and substantial al dente pasta wrapped in a velvety sauce, savory beef tucked into every curve, and a subtle herb brightness at the end. Serve it with:

• A bright arugula salad with lemon and olive oil to refresh the palate.
• Roasted broccoli or green beans with a squeeze of lemon.
• Extra Parmesan at the table and a crack of black pepper for lift.
• Warm crusty bread to swipe through the glossy sauce.

It’s comfort without heaviness, balance without fuss the NATYRALI essence of a great Ground Beef Pasta.

🧊 Storage & Freezing

• Refrigerate: Cool completely, store airtight up to 4 days.
• Reheat: Add a splash of broth, milk, or water and warm gently on the stovetop over low heat, stirring until creamy; or microwave in 45-second intervals, stirring between bursts.
• Freeze: For best texture, freeze in single portions up to 2 months. Thaw overnight; reheat with a splash of liquid and a fresh knob of butter to restore gloss.

Meal-prep tip: Undercook pasta by 1–2 minutes if planning to reheat later.

🌟 Pro Tips for Success

• Toast the tomato paste: One minute in the pan deepens sweetness and ties beef to the sauce.
• Season the base, not just the finish: Salt the beef early and taste the sauce before adding pasta.
• Stir strategically: A couple of stirs mid-cook prevent sticking and encourage creamy starch release.
• Finish off heat: Butter and Parmesan emulsify best when the heat is off, keeping the sauce velvety.
• Control thickness: Add water in small splashes until the sauce clings like silk, not glue.
• Herb timing: Stir in fresh parsley or basil at the end to preserve color and brightness.
• NATYRALI glow: A whisper of lemon zest wakes the butter and balances richness without obvious acidity.

📋 Ingredient Recap (Quick Reference)

• Beef: 1 lb (455 g) ground
• Aromatics: 6 cloves garlic, 1 cup (150 g) onion
• Fats: 4 tbsp (56 g) butter, 1 tbsp (15 ml) oil
• Flavor: 2 tbsp (30 g) tomato paste, 1 tsp Dijon, 1 tbsp (15 ml) Worcestershire
• Pasta & liquids: 12 oz (340 g) pasta, 3 cups (720 ml) broth, 1 cup (240 ml) cream, water as needed
• Seasoning: 1.5 tsp salt, 3/4 tsp pepper, 1.5 tsp Italian seasoning, chili flakes optional
• Finish: 3/4 cup (60 g) Parmesan, herbs, lemon zest optional

💌 Emma’s Note

This is the pasta that taught the value of small details: a minute spent toasting tomato paste, the quiet gloss of butter off heat, the patience to let pasta finish in its own sauce. After testing ratios and timings, what remains is joyful simplicity big comfort, little effort, and a bowl that’s empty before the stories at the table are done. If your heart leans toward creamy Garlic Butter Pasta or fuss-free Beef Recipes For Dinner, this one brings it home every time.

If this recipe made your night easier, follow on Pinterest for more NATYRALI Ground Beef Pasta ideas, weeknight-friendly Beef Recipes Easy, and one-pot Pasta Dinner Recipes you’ll want to make on repeat.