Description
Turn your weeknight dinner into a cozy, flavor-packed delight with this Creamy Garlic Butter Beef Bowtie Pasta with Italian Sausage & Spinach. This easy recipe combines juicy ground beef, zesty sausage, and tender bowtie pasta in a rich garlic butter and Parmesan cream sauce. It’s one of those quick dinner ideas that feels gourmet without the fuss. Whether you’re meal prepping or need something satisfying on the fly, this dish delivers comfort and taste in every bite. Perfect for dinner ideas, food ideas, or when you just want an easy recipe to warm you up.
Ingredients
12 oz bowtie pasta (farfalle)
1/2 lb ground beef
1/2 lb Italian sausage
3 cups fresh spinach
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp butter
1 cup heavy cream
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
Salt, to taste
Black pepper, to taste
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 cup reserved pasta water
Instructions
1. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and Italian sausage. Cook until browned and fully cooked through. Drain excess fat.
2. Lower the heat to medium. Add butter and minced garlic to the pan. Sauté until garlic is fragrant, about 1–2 minutes.
3. Pour in heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer. Stir in Parmesan cheese and cook until melted and sauce starts to thicken.
4. Meanwhile, cook bowtie pasta in salted water until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water and then drain.
5. Add cooked pasta and spinach to the sauce along with the browned meat. Toss everything to combine. Use reserved pasta water to thin the sauce as needed.
6. Season with salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using). Let it all simmer together for a few minutes until heated through.
7. Serve hot, topped with extra Parmesan and fresh parsley if desired.
Notes
For extra flavor, use spicy Italian sausage.
To make it lighter, swap heavy cream with half-and-half or evaporated milk.
Add mushrooms or sun-dried tomatoes for more complexity and texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups (approx.)
- Calories: 620
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 740 mg
- Fat: 36 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 29 g
- Cholesterol: 115 mg