Description
A rich, comforting pasta dish featuring ground beef, sautéed mushrooms, and a silky cream sauce that the whole family will love.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 ounces pasta (penne, rigatoni, or fettuccine)
- 1 pound ground beef (or thinly sliced sirloin)
- 8 ounces mushrooms, sliced (cremini or baby bella)
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 cup dry white wine or beef broth
- 1 to 1 1/2 cups heavy cream or half-and-half
- 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard (optional)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley or thyme for garnish
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil and cook the pasta one minute shy of al dente. Reserve one cup of pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta and set aside.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add olive oil, then add the ground beef in a single layer. Let it brown without stirring for a minute, then break it up and continue cooking until nicely caramelized. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
- Push the beef to the side, add butter, then sauté the onions until translucent. Add mushrooms and cook until they release their juices and turn golden. Stir in minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Pour in white wine or broth and scrape the brown bits from the bottom of the skillet. Let the liquid reduce slightly, then stir in the cream and Dijon mustard. Bring to a gentle simmer, and whisk in the Parmesan until the sauce becomes glossy and slightly thickened.
- Add the drained pasta to the skillet and toss to coat, adding reserved pasta water a splash at a time to reach the sauce consistency you prefer. Finish with fresh parsley and a squeeze of lemon if desired.
Notes
Always reserve pasta water for better sauce emulsification. Use freshly grated cheese for smoother melting.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 26g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 60g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 27g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
Keywords: pasta, beef, creamy, easy dinner, family meal
