Quick & Creamy Beef Penne Pasta Dish Recipe That Dazzles

Let me whisk you into a world where creamy beef penne pasta becomes your weekend culinary adventure.

Pasta lovers understand the magic of comfort food that hugs your palate with rich, velvety goodness.

Weeknight dinners demand something special, and this recipe delivers pure deliciousness.

Hearty beef mingles with tender pasta, creating a symphony of flavors that dance across your taste buds.

Mediterranean-inspired ingredients elevate this classic dish from simple to spectacular.

Each forkful promises a delightful journey through textures and tastes that feel both familiar and exciting.

You’ll want to savor every single bite of this irresistible meal.

Why Creamy Beef Penne Pasta Dish Deserves a Spot on Your Menu

• Transforms ordinary ground beef into a restaurant-worthy meal in under 30 minutes, perfect for busy families craving delicious comfort food.
• Combines rich ingredients like heavy cream, Parmesan, and Worcestershire sauce to create a deeply satisfying sauce that elevates simple pasta.
• Easily adjusts spice levels with red pepper flakes, allows substitutions for dietary needs, and welcomes personal flavor tweaks without compromising the dish's core deliciousness.
• Minimizes kitchen cleanup by preparing the entire meal in a single skillet, reducing dish washing and making cooking and post-meal cleanup a breeze.

What You’ll Need for Creamy Beef Penne Pasta Dish

• Penne Pasta: Classic pasta shape that holds sauce beautifully, perfect for creamy dishes.

• Ground Beef, Beef Broth: Rich protein base that adds deep meaty flavor to the sauce, choose lean ground beef for less fat.

• Heavy Cream, Parmesan Cheese: Provides luxurious creaminess and adds rich, tangy flavor, select fresh Parmesan for best taste.

• Onion, Garlic: Foundational flavor builders that add depth and complexity to the dish.
• Italian Seasoning, Salt, Black Pepper, Red Pepper Flakes: Spice blend that enhances overall taste profile with warmth and subtle heat.

• Olive Oil: Helps sauté ingredients and adds smooth base flavor.
• Tomato Paste, Worcestershire Sauce, Smoked Paprika: Complex flavor boosters that create rich, multilayered sauce character.

• Fresh Parsley: Bright green herb that adds fresh finish and visual appeal.

How to Prepare Creamy Beef Penne Pasta in No Time

Step 1: Boil Pasta

Fill a large pot with water, add salt, and bring to a rolling boil. Drop penne pasta and cook until tender but firm. Drain in a colander and set aside.

Step 2: Brown Beef

Heat olive oil in a spacious skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and break into small crumbles while cooking. Drain any excess fat from the pan.

Step 3: Sauté Aromatics

• Diced onions
• Minced garlic

Cook until the kitchen fills with a fragrant aroma, about 2-3 minutes.

Step 4: Season the Mixture

• Italian herbs
• Salt
• Black pepper
• Red pepper flakes

Stir thoroughly to distribute evenly.

Step 5: Create Creamy Sauce

• Beef broth
• Heavy cream
• Tomato paste
• Worcestershire sauce
• Smoked paprika

Simmer for 5 minutes, allowing flavors to meld together.

Step 6: Add Cheese

Stir in Parmesan cheese until the sauce becomes smooth and velvety.

Step 7: Combine Pasta and Sauce

Add cooked penne to the skillet, tossing gently to coat every pasta piece with the rich sauce. Let simmer for 2 minutes.

Step 8: Garnish and Serve

Top with fresh chopped parsley and extra Parmesan cheese. Serve hot and enjoy the comforting meal.

Creamy Pasta Tips That Actually Work

• Choose Quality Meat: Select lean ground beef with 85% to 90% meat content for a rich, flavorful sauce without excessive grease.
• Control Cream Consistency: Adjust heavy cream amount based on desired thickness; simmer longer for a thicker sauce or add more broth for a lighter texture.
• Boost Flavor Depth: Toast Italian seasoning in the pan for 30 seconds before adding other ingredients to enhance and release its aromatic compounds.
• Perfect Pasta Technique: Cook penne just under al dente since it will continue absorbing sauce during final simmering, preventing mushy texture.
• Spice Customization: Modify red pepper flakes and smoked paprika quantities to match personal heat preference without overwhelming the creamy base.

Reheating and Storing Your Pasta Dish

• Store leftover pasta in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking, keeping it fresh for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
• Cover the pasta with plastic wrap or aluminum foil to maintain moisture and prevent the sauce from absorbing unwanted flavors.
• Warm the pasta in a skillet over medium-low heat, adding a splash of beef broth or cream to restore its creamy texture. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking and ensure even heating.
• For a quick reheat, place pasta in a microwave-safe dish, cover with a damp paper towel, and heat in 30-second intervals, stirring between each to distribute heat evenly.

Meals That Pair Well with Beef Penne Pasta

• Select a bold Cabernet Sauvignon or Zinfandel that matches the rich, meaty flavors of the creamy beef pasta. These wines cut through the creaminess and complement the hearty beef profile.
• Create a light arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette to balance the dish's heavy texture. The peppery greens and tangy dressing will provide a refreshing contrast to the creamy pasta.
• Serve warm, crusty garlic bread to soak up the delicious sauce and add a complementary garlicky crunch. The bread's crispy exterior and soft interior perfectly enhance the pasta's rich flavors.
• Choose a medium-bodied amber ale or brown ale that stands up to the beef's intensity. These beer styles offer malty undertones that harmonize with the dish's robust seasonings and creamy consistency.

Alternate Takes on Creamy Beef Penne Pasta Dish

• Gluten-Free Penne Pasta: Replace traditional penne with gluten-free penne made from rice, corn, or quinoa flour. Use gluten-free beef broth and verify all ingredients are certified gluten-free.
• Vegetarian Protein Option: Swap ground beef with plant-based crumbles, lentils, or crumbled tofu. Maintain the creamy sauce and seasoning profile for a protein-rich vegetarian meal.
• Low-Carb Cauliflower Alternative: Substitute penne pasta with roasted cauliflower florets or spiralized zucchini noodles. Reduce carbohydrate content while keeping the rich, creamy sauce intact.
• Dairy-Free Adaptation: Replace heavy cream with coconut milk or cashew cream. Use nutritional yeast instead of Parmesan cheese to maintain the creamy texture and cheesy flavor for lactose-intolerant individuals.

Creamy Beef Pasta Dish: Common Questions

• What type of pasta works best for this recipe?

Penne pasta is ideal, but you can also use similar tube-shaped pastas like rigatoni or ziti which hold the creamy sauce well.

• Can I make this dish less spicy?

Yes, simply reduce or omit the red pepper flakes to lower the heat level while maintaining the rich flavor profile.

• Is this recipe good for meal prep?

Absolutely! This creamy beef pasta reheats well and can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, making it perfect for quick lunches or dinners.

• Do I need to use heavy cream, or can I substitute?

While heavy cream provides the richest texture, you can substitute with half-and-half or whole milk, though the sauce will be slightly less creamy and thick.

Creamy Beef Penne Pasta Dish Recipe

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4.9 from 23 reviews

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Comfort meets culinary delight in this creamy beef penne pasta, blending rich flavors and hearty textures. Savory ground beef and velvety sauce provide a satisfying meal that promises warmth and satisfaction with each delectable bite.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Proteins:

• 1 pound (450g) ground beef
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

Pasta and Dairy:

• 12 ounces (340g) penne pasta
• 1 ½ cups heavy cream
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Seasonings and Aromatics:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 small onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
• ½ teaspoon smoked paprika (optional, for extra depth of flavor)
• 1 cup beef broth
• Fresh parsley or basil, chopped
• Extra Parmesan cheese

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Instructions

1. Fill a generously sized pot with salted water and bring to a rolling boil, then carefully add penne pasta and cook until perfectly tender.
2. Thoroughly drain pasta and reserve to the side.
3. Warm olive oil in a spacious skillet over medium-high temperature.
4. Introduce ground beef to the pan, methodically breaking it into small fragments while allowing it to brown thoroughly for approximately 5 minutes.
5. Eliminate excess rendered fat from the meat.
6. Incorporate diced onions and minced garlic, sautéing until aromatic and translucent.
7. Sprinkle Italian seasoning, salt, freshly cracked black pepper, and red pepper flakes, mixing ingredients comprehensively.
8. Stream beef broth, heavy cream, concentrated tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, and smoky paprika into the skillet.
9. Gently blend ingredients and allow sauce to simmer, enabling flavors to harmonize for roughly 5 minutes.
10. Fold in grated Parmesan cheese until sauce achieves a luxurious, velvety consistency.
11. Transfer cooked pasta into the creamy sauce, carefully tossing to ensure complete coating.
12. Let mixture gently bubble for an additional 2 minutes, permitting pasta to absorb sauce’s rich essence.
13. Finish dish by scattering freshly chopped parsley and sprinkling extra Parmesan cheese on top.

Notes

• Choose short pasta like penne or rigatoni to help sauce cling perfectly to every curve of the noodle.
• Drain pasta just before it reaches full tenderness since it will continue cooking in the creamy sauce.
• Opt for lean ground beef to reduce excess fat while maintaining rich, meaty flavor profile.
• Consider dairy-free alternatives like coconut cream or cashew cream for lactose-intolerant diners, ensuring same luxurious texture and taste.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 738
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 570 mg
• Fat: 45 g
• Saturated Fat: 24 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
• Trans Fat: 1 g
• Carbohydrates: 54 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 36 g
• Cholesterol: 130 mg