Description
This Cheesy Garlic Butter Linguine with Beef, Sausage, and Spinach is a hearty and flavorful pasta dish combining savory ground beef and Italian sausage with fresh spinach and melted cheese. Ready in just 30 minutes, it features tender linguine tossed in garlic-infused butter and topped with mozzarella and parmesan for a comforting and satisfying meal perfect for weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Vegetables
- 1/2 pound ground beef
- 1/2 pound Italian sausage
- 4 cups fresh spinach
Pasta and Cheese
- 8 ounces linguine pasta
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
Seasonings and Others
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup reserved pasta water
Instructions
- Cook the linguine: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the linguine and cook until al dente, about 8-10 minutes, then drain the pasta, reserving 1/2 cup of the pasta water for later use.
- Brown the meats: In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the ground beef and Italian sausage, breaking them apart as they cook. Season with salt and pepper. Cook until meat is browned and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes. Drain any excess fat from the skillet.
- Sauté garlic in butter: Push the meat to one side of the skillet. Add butter and minced garlic to the empty side. Cook for about 30 seconds until the garlic is fragrant but not browned.
- Wilt the spinach: Add the fresh spinach to the skillet and stir it into the garlic butter and meat. Continue to cook until the spinach is wilted, about 2-3 minutes.
- Toss pasta with ingredients: Add the cooked linguine to the skillet along with the reserved pasta water. Toss everything together thoroughly to coat the pasta evenly with the garlic butter, meat, and spinach mixture.
- Melt the cheese: Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella and grated parmesan cheese evenly over the linguine. Cover the skillet with a lid or foil and let it sit for 2-3 minutes to allow the cheese to melt. Alternatively, you can place the skillet briefly under a broiler to melt and lightly brown the cheese, watching carefully to prevent burning.
- Serve: Serve the cheesy garlic butter linguine hot, garnished with crushed red pepper flakes if using, for a spicy kick.
Notes
- You can substitute the Italian sausage with spicy or mild varieties depending on your heat preference.
- For a creamier sauce, add a splash of heavy cream or cream cheese while tossing the pasta.
- Fresh spinach can be replaced with kale or Swiss chard for a different leafy green.
- Reserve some extra pasta water to adjust sauce consistency if it seems dry.
- Make sure not to overcook the garlic to avoid bitterness.
