The Rich, Melty Pasta Dinner That Absolutely Does Not Believe In Being Subtle
Some pasta dishes are light and delicate. This is not one of them. This cheesy beef spaghetti in savory garlic cheddar butter cream is rich, creamy, beefy, and gloriously over-the-top in the best possible way.
It is exactly the kind of dinner you make when you want something hot, comforting, and deeply satisfying. The spaghetti gets coated in a buttery garlic cream sauce, the seasoned beef brings all the savory flavor, and the cheddar melts right into everything like it was born for this job.
And yes, this is one of those meals that makes “just one bowl” feel wildly optimistic.
If you enjoy easy homemade comfort-food recipes like this, leave a little eat or thank you in the comments so I know to keep sharing more.
Why You’ll Love This Cheesy Beef Spaghetti
This cheesy beef spaghetti recipe is rich, easy, and perfect for hungry evenings.
It combines spaghetti, seasoned ground beef, garlic, butter, cream, and melty cheddar into one seriously cozy plate of food. It is ideal for family dinners, potlucks, or nights when only a creamy pasta situation will do.
Basically, very little chance of leftovers here.
Ingredients
- 18 oz spaghetti
- 1 1/2 lbs lean ground beef
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, optional
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley, optional
How to Make Cheesy Beef Spaghetti in Savory Garlic Cheddar Butter Cream
Cook the spaghetti
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
Cook the spaghetti until al dente according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
A little pasta water can be saved in case you want to loosen the sauce later.
Cook the beef
In a large skillet or deep pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat.
Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it up as it cooks.
Add the chopped onion and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes until softened. Stir in the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds.
Season with salt, black pepper, paprika, and Italian seasoning.
If there is too much grease, drain a little off.
Make the garlic cheddar butter cream sauce
Reduce the heat to medium-low.
Add the butter to the pan and let it melt. Stir in the flour and cook for about 1 minute, stirring constantly.
Slowly pour in the milk and heavy cream, whisking or stirring so the sauce stays smooth.
Cook for a few minutes until slightly thickened.
Add the cheese
Stir in the cheddar cheese and Parmesan if using.
Mix until melted and creamy.
At this point the sauce is doing exactly what it was born to do.
Combine with the spaghetti
Add the cooked spaghetti to the pan and toss gently until well coated.
Let everything warm together for another 1 to 2 minutes.
If the sauce feels too thick, add a splash of reserved pasta water or a little more milk.
Serve
Serve hot with chopped parsley on top if you like.
That glossy cheesy top layer in the picture is already making a very strong argument.
Helpful Tips
Use sharp cheddar for the best flavor.
Do not boil the sauce hard after adding cheese, or it can get grainy.
A little mozzarella can be mixed in for extra stretch.
This dish is best served hot while the sauce is silky and melty.
Final Thoughts
This cheesy beef spaghetti in savory garlic cheddar butter cream is rich, hearty, and exactly the kind of pasta dinner people remember. It is creamy, beefy, cheesy, and unapologetically comforting.
Garlic butter, melted cheddar, savory beef, and a big plate of pasta. Honestly, that is a very convincing dinner.
Recipe Card
Ingredients
- 18 oz spaghetti
- 1 1/2 lbs lean ground beef
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1 small onion
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 2 cups milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 cups cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup Parmesan, optional
Instructions
- Cook the spaghetti and drain.
- Brown the beef in olive oil.
- Add onion and garlic.
- Season with salt, pepper, paprika, and Italian seasoning.
- Add butter, then stir in flour.
- Pour in milk and cream and cook until slightly thickened.
- Stir in cheddar and Parmesan until melted.
- Toss in the spaghetti.
- Serve hot.