Pin it
This soothing bowl brings together velvety garlic sauce, flavorful beef, and bow-tie pasta cooked just right. You'll love how the soft noodles mix with the meaty bits for a dinner that hits the spot on busy nights.
I whipped this up once and my children begged for extra helpings - it's now our start-the-week dinner ritual.
Key Components Breakdown
- Farfalle: Grab good-quality bow-ties that catch all the sauce goodness
- Ground Beef: Go for 80/20 mix to get the tastiest results
- Garlic: Skip the jar stuff and crush your own cloves
- Cheese: Take a minute to shred it yourself for smoother melting
- Butter: Get the unsalted European kind if you can
Cooking Instructions
- Step 1: Pasta Cooking (12 minutes)
- Make water taste like ocean water with salt. Give pasta a quick stir right after dropping it in. Keep checking for that slight bite. Save some cooking water before you drain.
- Step 2: Beef Preparation (10 minutes)
- Get your pan nice and hot first. Crumble meat into tiny chunks as you go. Add spices to each batch you put in. Stop when it just turns brown.
- Step 3: Sauce Creation (8 minutes)
- Let butter melt gently. Cook garlic just until you smell it. Beat flour in fast. Pour milk in slowly while stirring.
- Step 4: Assembly (5 minutes)
- Mix cheese in away from heat. Fold everything together carefully. Thin sauce if needed. Taste and add more salt if needed.
Pin it
My nonna always told me to save more cooking water than I thought I'd need - that's what makes your sauce smooth as silk.
Heat Management
Keep it gentle so your cheese stays creamy instead of clumpy.
Prep-Ahead Tricks
Cook each part on its own ahead of time.
Warming Up Leftovers
Stir in a bit of milk while heating it back up.
Pin it
This bowl shows how basic items can make the most comforting food. Just pay attention to each part, and don't rush that buttery garlic sauce.
Frequently Asked Questions
- → Can I swap the pasta shape?
- Sure, try penne, fusilli, or shells for this dish!
- → My sauce gets super thick. What can I do?
- Keep some pasta water on hand. Add it slowly until the sauce is just right.
- → Is it possible to prep this in advance?
- It is, but the sauce might thicken. Reheat with a bit of milk to smooth it out.
- → What veggies go well with this?
- Spinach, peas, or mushrooms are great additions for more flavor and nutrition.
- → Can I replace ground beef with something lighter?
- Of course! Ground turkey or chicken are both tasty options.