Description

This Cheesy Rotini Pasta with Garlic Butter Sauce and Ground Beef is a quick dinner idea that’s rich, comforting, and weeknight‑friendly. Tender rotini catches a silky garlic butter sauce, juicy ground beef adds hearty flavor, and a mix of cheddar and Parmesan makes it irresistibly creamy. Perfect for busy nights, meal prep, or when you need easy recipe inspiration for family‑friendly dinner ideas, quick breakfast leftovers, or even a hearty, healthy snack. Packed with big flavor and simple ingredients, it’s one of those food ideas you’ll come back to again and again. Keywords: quick breakfast, easy dinner, healthy snack, breakfast ideas, dinner ideas, easy recipe, food ideas.

Ingredients

12 ounces rotini pasta

1 pound ground beef (90% lean)

4 tablespoons unsalted butter

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/2 cup reserved pasta cooking water (as needed)

1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning (optional)

1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

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Instructions

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook rotini until al dente; reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain.

2. In a large skillet over medium‑high heat, brown ground beef, breaking it up as it cooks, 5–7 minutes; drain excess fat if needed.

3. Reduce heat to medium. Add butter; when melted, stir in minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 60 seconds.

4. Season beef with salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes (if using).

5. Add the drained rotini to the skillet. Toss with the garlic butter and beef; splash in reserved pasta water to loosen into a glossy sauce.

6. Sprinkle in cheddar and Parmesan. Toss until melted and creamy, adjusting with more pasta water as needed.

7. Taste and adjust seasoning. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve hot.

Notes

Salt your pasta water generously; it seasons the pasta from the inside out.

Add pasta water gradually—its starch helps the cheese emulsify into a smooth, silky sauce.

For make‑ahead: undercook pasta by 1 minute and reheat with a splash of water or milk.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Dinner, Pasta
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups
Calories: 520
Sugar: 3
Sodium: 720
Fat: 25
Saturated Fat: 13
Unsaturated Fat: 10
Trans Fat: 1
Carbohydrates: 47
Fiber: 2
Protein: 29
Cholesterol: 95