Creamy Pesto Beef Pasta
A quick and flavorful pasta dish combining tender beef, fresh pesto, and creamy sauce for a satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Pasta
- 12 oz short pasta like penne, fusilli, or rigatoni
- 1 tbsp Olive Oil
- 1 lb Ground Beef
- 3 cloves Garlic minced
- Salt and Black Pepper
- 1 cup Heavy Cream
- ½ cup Basil Pesto
- ½ cup Parmesan Cheese grated
- 1 cup Cherry Tomatoes halved (optional)
- Fresh Basil (optional)
- Optional Add-ins (spinach, sautéed mushrooms, red pepper flakes)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta in salted boiling water until al dente, then drain, reserving ¼ cup of pasta water.
- In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add ground beef, season with salt and pepper, and cook until browned. Drain excess fat.
- Add minced garlic to the beef and cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
- Reduce heat, pour in heavy cream, and simmer for 2-3 minutes to thicken. Stir in pesto and Parmesan until smooth.
- Add cooked pasta to the sauce, toss to coat, fold in cherry tomatoes if using, and loosen with reserved pasta water if needed. Serve hot, garnished with basil or extra Parmesan.
Notes
For extra flavor, add red pepper flakes or sautéed mushrooms.