Description
Creamy Parmesan Beef Rigatoni is the ultimate comfort food—tender rigatoni tossed with savory ground beef, a rich Parmesan cream sauce, and melted mozzarella. Perfect for busy weeknights or cozy family dinners.
Ingredients
1 lb rigatoni pasta
1 lb ground beef (80/20 preferred for flavor)
2 tbsp olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups heavy cream
1 cup beef broth
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
2 tbsp tomato paste
1 tsp Italian seasoning
½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
Salt and black pepper, to taste
Fresh parsley or basil, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook rigatoni until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
Sauté Aromatics: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion, cooking 3–4 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic for 1 minute.
Brown the Beef: Add ground beef, breaking apart with a spatula. Cook 6–8 minutes until fully browned. Drain excess grease.
Build the Base: Stir in tomato paste, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Cook for 2–3 minutes.
Make the Sauce: Pour in beef broth and heavy cream, stirring to combine. Simmer 5–7 minutes until slightly thickened.
Add Cheese: Stir in Parmesan until melted. Add mozzarella for extra creaminess.
Combine: Toss rigatoni with the sauce, adding pasta water as needed for consistency.
Serve: Garnish with parsley or basil, and extra Parmesan if desired.
Notes
Use freshly grated Parmesan for the creamiest sauce.
Swap beef for ground turkey, chicken, or Italian sausage if preferred.
Leftovers reheat well with a splash of milk or broth to restore creaminess.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner , lunch
- Method: Stovetop + Skillet
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 640 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 690 mg
- Fat: 36 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 48 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 130 mg