Creamy Garlic Butter Penne (Printable Recipe)
Penne pasta with garlic butter cream, beef, sausage, spinach, and cheese for a hearty, flavorful meal.
# Ingredients You'll Need:
→ Pasta
01 -
1 pound penne pasta
→ Proteins
02 -
1 pound ground beef
03 -
1 pound Italian sausage, casings removed
→ Vegetables
04 -
1 large onion, chopped
05 -
4 cloves garlic, minced
06 -
10 ounces frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
→ Sauce Base
07 -
2 tablespoons olive oil
08 -
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
09 -
¼ cup all-purpose flour
10 -
3 cups whole milk
11 -
1 cup chicken broth
12 -
1 cup heavy cream
→ Cheese
13 -
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
14 -
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
→ Seasonings
15 -
2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
16 -
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
17 -
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
18 -
Salt and black pepper to taste
# Steps to Follow:
01 -
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add penne and cook until al dente, about 10-12 minutes. Drain and set aside, reserving a small cup of pasta water for potential sauce thinning.
02 -
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and Italian sausage, breaking into small pieces as they cook. Continue stirring until no pink remains and edges develop a crisp texture. Drain excess grease.
03 -
Add chopped onion to the pan with browned meat. Cook for 5 minutes until soft and translucent. Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in squeezed spinach and heat through for 2-3 minutes.
04 -
In a separate saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour and stir for 1 minute to cook out raw taste, forming a roux. Gradually pour in milk and chicken broth while whisking to maintain smoothness.
05 -
Let the roux mixture simmer gently until it thickens to sauce consistency, 5-7 minutes. Lower heat and stir in heavy cream, Parmesan, mozzarella, Cajun seasoning, Italian seasoning, and smoked paprika until cheeses melt and sauce becomes glossy.
06 -
In a large pot or skillet, combine cooked pasta, meat and spinach mixture, and all the sauce. Toss well to ensure every piece of pasta is coated. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
07 -
For a golden cheesy top, transfer mixture to an oven-safe baking dish. Sprinkle additional mozzarella and broil for 2-3 minutes until bubbly and browned, watching carefully to prevent burning.
# Extra Tips:
01 -
High protein and filling meal that's great for meal prep and leftovers
02 -
Always squeeze spinach completely dry to prevent watery sauce
03 -
If sauce thickens too quickly during simmering, whisk in reserved pasta water
04 -
Taste and adjust seasoning at the end since sausage and cheese saltiness can vary
05 -
Sauce will thicken in refrigerator but loosens with a splash of milk when reheating