Description
A rich Italian-American beef pasta dish made in one pot with penne, ground beef, and heavy cream. No wine or pork—just bold flavor in 30 minutes. Perfect for families seeking a comforting weeknight meal with restaurant-quality simplicity.
Ingredients
Ground beef 1 lb (85% lean preferred)
Short pasta 12 oz (penne preferred)
Beef broth 2 1/2 cups (low-sodium recommended)
Heavy cream 1 cup
Yellow onion 1 medium
Garlic 3 1/2 cloves
Tomato paste 2 tbsp
Italian herbs 1 tsp
Parmesan 1 cup
Black pepper (freshly ground, to taste)
Instructions
Heat olive oil in large Dutch oven over medium-high
Add ground beef, cook until evenly browned (5-7 min)
Drain fat using paper towels
Add onion – cook 4 min until golden
Add garlic, sauté 1 min until fragrant
Stir in tomato paste, herbs, and black pepper
Cook 1 min to absorb flavors
Pour in broth and dry pasta
Boil, then reduce to simmer for 10 min
Stir occasionally, adjust broth as needed
Remove pot from heat
Add cream and 1/2 cup Parmesan
Stir until smooth, season with salt
Ladle into bowls
Top with extra Parmesan
Notes
Penne pasta absorbs sauce best
Use low-sodium broth for better salt control
Grate Parmesan fresh for optimal texture
Leftovers reheat beautifully in microwave or oven
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 30
- Category: DINNER
- Method: One-pot cooking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (1 1/4 cups)
- Calories: 620
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 1000mg
- Fat: 34g
- Saturated Fat: 22g
- Carbohydrates: 58g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 36g
- Cholesterol: 140mg