Description
A creamy and comforting cheesy penne pasta dish featuring savory garlic butter ground beef and a rich three-cheese sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound penne pasta
- 1 pound ground beef
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 cup medium cheddar cheese, freshly grated
- ½ cup mozzarella cheese, freshly grated
- ½ cup parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Cook penne pasta according to package directions until al dente.
- In a large skillet, brown ground beef over medium heat until cooked through.
- Add butter and minced garlic to the beef, cooking until fragrant.
- Sprinkle flour over the mixture and stir to combine.
- Gradually add milk, stirring constantly to create a smooth sauce.
- Add freshly grated cheeses and stir until melted and creamy.
- Combine sauce with cooked pasta.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Garnish with fresh parsley if desired.
Notes
- Make ahead: Prepare up to 24 hours in advance, slightly undercook pasta, and add 2-3 tablespoons milk when reheating.
- For best results, use freshly grated cheese instead of pre-shredded varieties.
- To make gluten-free, use gluten-free penne and replace flour with cornstarch (use half amount) or 1:1 gluten-free flour blend.
- Add vegetables like bell peppers, mushrooms, spinach, or zucchini for extra nutrition.
- Reheat leftovers gently with a splash of milk, either in a covered skillet or microwave at 50% power.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 580
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
Keywords: cheesy penne pasta, ground beef pasta, garlic butter pasta, three cheese pasta, comfort food
