Description
A comforting and satisfying pasta dish featuring a rich cream sauce, lean ground beef, and fresh spinach, perfect for quick weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz (225 g) fettuccine pasta
- 1 lb (454 g) lean ground beef (90% lean recommended)
- 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
- 1/2 cup (about 50 g) freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups fresh spinach (about 60 g)
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 tbsp olive oil (optional, for sautéing if needed)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Cook the fettuccine according to package instructions until al dente. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the starchy pasta water. Set pasta aside.
- While pasta cooks, heat a large skillet over medium heat. If your beef is very lean and sticking, add olive oil. Add the ground beef and brown, breaking into small pieces. Season with salt and pepper. Cook until no pink remains (about 6–8 minutes).
- Push the beef to one side of the pan. Add the minced garlic to the empty side and sauté for 30–60 seconds until fragrant.
- Stir the garlic into the beef, then lower heat and pour in the heavy cream. Stir to combine and let warm gently for 1–2 minutes.
- Gradually whisk in the grated Parmesan cheese, stirring continuously until smooth. If too thick, add reserved pasta water gradually until desired consistency is reached.
- Add the Italian seasoning and fresh spinach. Stir until spinach wilts, about 1–2 minutes.
- Add the drained fettuccine to the skillet and gently toss to coat in the creamy mixture. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
- Serve immediately, topped with extra grated Parmesan and black pepper if desired.
Notes
Use freshly grated Parmesan for better texture and flavor. Adjust the amount of cream or cheese to your liking for various richness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 720
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 40g
- Saturated Fat: 20g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 46g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 43g
- Cholesterol: 120mg