Description
Crave-worthy, creamy, and weeknight‑easy—this skillet pasta layers tender penne with browned beef and savory Italian sausage, all tossed in a velvety garlic‑butter cream sauce that hugs every ridge. Fresh spinach wilts right into the pan for color and balance, while a shower of Parmesan adds salty, nutty richness. It’s a cozy easy dinner that tastes restaurant‑worthy but comes together fast. Perfect for busy nights, casual company, or whenever you need quick comfort food ideas. Save this one to your dinner ideas list—it’s a reliable easy recipe for family meals, meal prep, and hearty food ideas that satisfy.
Ingredients
12 ounces penne pasta
2 teaspoons kosher salt (for pasta water)
2 tablespoons olive oil
8 ounces Italian sausage, casings removed
8 ounces ground beef (85% lean)
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
6 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup beef broth (low sodium)
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
5 ounces baby spinach
1 teaspoon kosher salt (to season sauce, or to taste)
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
1/2 cup reserved pasta water, as needed
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of well‑salted water to a boil. Cook penne until just al dente according to package directions. Reserve 1 cup pasta water, then drain.
2. Heat olive oil in a large deep skillet over medium‑high. Add Italian sausage and ground beef; cook, breaking up with a spoon, until deeply browned and no longer pink, 6–8 minutes. Spoon off excess fat if needed.
3. Reduce heat to medium. Add butter; when melted, stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30–60 seconds (do not brown).
4. Pour in beef broth, scraping up browned bits. Simmer 2 minutes to reduce slightly. Stir in heavy cream; bring to a gentle simmer and cook 2–3 minutes until lightly thickened.
5. Stir in Parmesan until smooth. Add spinach and fold until just wilted. Season with kosher salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes if using.
6. Add the drained penne and toss to coat. If sauce is too thick, splash in reserved pasta water until glossy and silky.
7. Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve hot with extra Parmesan.
Notes
Brown the meats well—deep color means deep flavor and a richer sauce.
Reserve pasta water; it emulsifies the sauce so it clings perfectly to the penne.
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 25
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop, One-Pan
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe
- Calories: 740
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 930
- Fat: 48
- Saturated Fat: 24
- Unsaturated Fat: 22
- Trans Fat: 1
- Carbohydrates: 42
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 31
- Cholesterol: 140
Keywords: easy dinner, creamy pasta, beef pasta, weeknight meals, garlic butter pasta