Description
This cheesy beef bowtie pasta delivers restaurant-quality results in your home kitchen. It’s a creamy, satisfying meal that transforms simple ingredients into comfort food magic—all in under 45 minutes for less than $15.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound farfalle (bowtie) pasta
- 1 pound lean ground beef (85/15 ratio)
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced fresh
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese, finely grated
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped for garnish
Instructions
- Fill a large pot with salted water and bring to a rolling boil. Meanwhile, soften cream cheese at room temperature for 10 minutes and gather all ingredients.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and break into small pieces. Cook for 6-8 minutes until browned with crispy edges.
- Add diced onion and cook for 3 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and cook another 30 seconds. Season with Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Add pasta to boiling water and cook 1 minute less than package directions. Reserve ½ cup pasta water and drain.
- Reduce skillet heat to low. Stir in softened cream cheese until smooth. Gradually whisk in heavy cream and Worcestershire sauce. Add cheddar and Parmesan cheeses, stirring until melted. If needed, add reserved pasta water one tablespoon at a time.
- Add drained pasta to skillet and toss gently to coat. Cook 2-3 more minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning. Garnish with parsley and serve.
Notes
Use Greek yogurt in place of cream cheese for a lighter texture. Substitute turkey or chicken for beef. Use gluten-free pasta if preferred. Add spinach or bell peppers for extra veggies.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 485
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 26g
- Cholesterol: 85mg