One Pot Beef and Garlic Butter Pasta Recipe

If you’re on the hunt for a weeknight dinner that’s cozy, rich, and ready in a flash, look no further than this One Pot Beef and Garlic Butter Pasta. It’s a flavor-packed celebration of tender pasta, hearty ground beef, and swoon-worthy garlic butter sauce—all cooked together for maximum ease and minimal cleanup. Trust me, friends, this recipe is destined to become your new pasta night staple!

Ingredients You’ll Need

It’s amazing how such humble, everyday ingredients come together to create this kind of dinner magic! Each one plays its part, building flavor, creaminess, and that irresistible garlicky aroma you’ll crave all week.

• Ground beef (1 pound): Opt for lean beef for less grease, but any regular ground beef works beautifully and brings that savory richness.
• Unsalted butter (3 tablespoons): This is where the luscious garlic butter magic happens—don’t skimp!
• Minced garlic (2 tablespoons): Fresh garlic makes all the difference, giving the sauce its bold, mouthwatering aroma.
• Garlic powder (½ teaspoon): It boosts the garlic flavor so every bite is super fragrant.
• Onion powder (½ teaspoon): A pinch of this brings gentle sweetness and a savory backbone.
• Mustard powder (½ teaspoon): Quietly deepens the flavor and adds a subtle tang that balances the richness of the butter and beef.
• Kosher salt (½ teaspoon) & black pepper (¼ teaspoon): Season the whole pan and make all the flavors pop.
• Chicken broth (3 cups): Pasta cooks directly in this—so it absorbs even more flavor and becomes ultra-tender.
• Cavatappi pasta (8 ounces): Those fun spirals cling to sauce like champs, but any short pasta shape you have is fair game.
• Parmesan cheese (½ cup, grated): A shower of salty-savory parmesan is the only way to finish off this pasta right.
• Fresh parsley, chopped: For garnish; it adds bright color and freshness as the final touch.

Variations

This One Pot Beef and Garlic Butter Pasta is endlessly flexible—think of it as your base recipe and riff away! You can easily adapt it to use up fridge odds-and-ends or tweak it for different dietary preferences. Here are just a few tasty ways to make it your own:

• Swap the Protein: Try ground turkey, chicken, or Italian sausage for a lighter or spicier spin.
• Go Green: Stir in a few handfuls of baby spinach or chopped kale during the last few minutes for extra color and nutrition.
• Creamy Upgrade: For a silkier sauce, add a splash of heavy cream or a dollop of cream cheese once the pasta is cooked.
• Make it Spicy: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes with the garlic or finish with a dusting of smoky paprika for a gentle kick.

How to Make One Pot Beef and Garlic Butter Pasta

Step 1: Brown the Beef

Start by crumbling the ground beef into a large skillet over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally to break up the meat, for 6 to 8 minutes or until the beef is no longer pink and gets those glorious browned edges. Don’t forget to drain off any excess grease before transferring the beef to a plate—this keeps the pasta from getting greasy later.

Step 2: Sauté the Garlic in Butter

In the same skillet (no need to clean!), melt the unsalted butter over medium heat. When it foams, add the minced garlic and cook for just 1 minute. Let the butter sizzle and become fragrant but keep a close eye—garlic can go from perfect to burnt in a flash!

Step 3: Return Beef & Add Seasonings

Return the cooked beef to the skillet and immediately sprinkle in your garlic powder, onion powder, mustard powder, kosher salt, and black pepper. Stir everything together so the beef and garlic butter get well-seasoned and every crumb gets coated in those savory aromatics.

Step 4: Simmer Pasta in Broth

Pour the chicken broth into the pan and give it all a good stir to loosen up any browned bits stuck to the bottom—those are golden flavor! Add your cavatappi pasta and make sure every piece is nestled in and submerged. Bring the whole thing to a simmer, cover, and cook for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring once or twice. The pasta should be perfectly tender and almost all of the broth absorbed to form a glossy sauce.

Step 5: Serve & Garnish

Ladle the finished pasta into bowls and shower generously with fresh parmesan and parsley. Serve immediately while it’s creamy and luscious. That’s the magic of One Pot Beef and Garlic Butter Pasta—simple, satisfying, and unbelievably inviting!

How to Serve One Pot Beef and Garlic Butter Pasta

Garnishes

Finish your One Pot Beef and Garlic Butter Pasta with a flurry of freshly grated parmesan cheese and a shower of bright, chopped parsley—it makes each forkful pop with color and extra savory flavor. For a little zest, you could also add a twist of black pepper or a pinch of red pepper flakes if your crew likes a hint of heat.

Side Dishes

This hearty pasta doesn’t need much to round out the meal. But if you want to jazz things up, a crisp green salad dressed simply in olive oil and lemon is always lovely. Some warm, crusty bread is perfect for swooping through the garlicky sauce left in your bowl—don’t let any of it go to waste!

Creative Ways to Present

You can dress up this classic for company by swirling the pasta into individual serving bowls or piling it high on a family-style platter garnished with towering wisps of parmesan and fresh parsley. For an extra-special touch, serve it in shallow bowls with a drizzle of high-quality olive oil and lemon zest on top.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Leftover One Pot Beef and Garlic Butter Pasta keeps beautifully! Simply transfer cooled pasta to an airtight container. It’ll stay fresh in the fridge for up to 3 days, so lunch tomorrow is sorted.

Freezing

This pasta can be frozen for up to 2 months—just let it cool, then pop portions in freezer-safe bags or containers. The texture of the pasta might soften a bit after thawing, but it will still be full of delicious garlicky goodness.

Reheating

To reheat, splash a bit of chicken broth or water into the pasta and warm gently on the stovetop or in the microwave. Stir frequently and don’t skimp on a fresh sprinkle of parmesan at the end—it brings all the flavors back to life!

FAQs

Final Thoughts

There’s something so soul-satisfying about a meal that’s simple, packed with flavor, and doesn’t leave you with a mountain of dishes. I hope you’ll give this One Pot Beef and Garlic Butter Pasta a spin—whether it’s for a bustling weeknight or a leisurely weekend at home. It’s hearty, cozy, and bound to bring everyone around the table smiling!

Print