Description
This Creamy Garlic Butter Beef Bowtie Pasta with Italian Sausage & Spinach is a hearty and flavorful dish combining tender bowtie pasta with savory Italian sausage, ground beef, fresh spinach, and a rich cream sauce infused with garlic and Parmesan cheese. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner that the whole family will love.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 1 lb bowtie pasta
- 1 cup reserved pasta water
Meat
- 1 lb Italian sausage (sweet or spicy, casings removed)
- 1 lb ground beef
Vegetables & Aromatics
- 4 cups fresh spinach
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
Dairy & Fats
- 4 tbsp butter
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Seasonings
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the bowtie pasta and cook until al dente according to package instructions. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining, then set pasta aside.
- Brown Meat: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add Italian sausage and ground beef, breaking up the meat into small crumbles. Cook until browned and fully cooked. Transfer the cooked meat to a plate and set aside.
- Sauté Garlic and Spinach: In the same skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds or until fragrant. Add the fresh spinach and cook until just wilted.
- Make Cream Sauce: Pour in the heavy cream and stir well to combine with the butter, garlic, and spinach mixture. Let the sauce simmer gently for 2-3 minutes to slightly thicken.
- Combine Meat and Pasta: Return the cooked meat to the skillet and stir to coat it in the creamy sauce. Add the cooked bowtie pasta and toss everything together thoroughly. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water to loosen it up.
- Finish and Serve: Stir in grated Parmesan cheese, season the dish with salt and black pepper to taste, and serve immediately while warm and creamy.
Notes
- For a spicier dish, use spicy Italian sausage instead of sweet.
- You can substitute the heavy cream with half-and-half for a lighter sauce, but it will be less creamy.
- Reserve pasta water is key to adjusting the sauce consistency perfectly.
- Add red pepper flakes if you want an extra kick of heat.
- Freshly grated Parmesan gives a better texture and flavor than pre-grated cheese.
