Description
A comforting and indulgent dish combining rigatoni pasta with savory ground beef, creamy cheese, and garlic butter for a delicious meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ground beef
- 12 ounces rigatoni pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 1/2 cups whole milk
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley or basil, chopped (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the rigatoni until al dente, about 11–13 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chopped onion and sauté for 2–3 minutes until soft. Add garlic and cook for another 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add ground beef to the skillet and cook until browned, breaking it up as it cooks. Season with salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. Once fully cooked, drain excess fat if needed and set the beef aside.
- In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium. Melt the butter, then whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly to make a smooth roux.
- Gradually pour in the milk, whisking until the mixture is smooth and begins to thicken, about 3–4 minutes.
- Stir in the mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses until fully melted and the sauce is creamy and cheesy. Season to taste with more salt and pepper.
- Add the cooked rigatoni and ground beef back into the skillet. Stir gently until the pasta is well coated in the cheesy garlic sauce and everything is heated through.
- Top with extra shredded mozzarella (optional), cover for a minute to let it melt, then garnish with fresh parsley or basil before serving.
Notes
For a lighter version, replace ground beef with ground turkey or chicken. You can also add red pepper flakes for a spicy kick.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
Keywords: creamy pasta, rigatoni, beef pasta, garlic butter, cheesy sauce