Description
Looking for a fast, flavorful, and comforting meal that’s perfect for any night of the week? This *Weeknight Garlic Butter Rotini with Beef, Italian Sausage, and Spinach* delivers bold flavors with minimal effort. Tender rotini pasta is tossed in a rich garlic butter sauce with savory beef, zesty Italian sausage, and a touch of cream. It’s one of those quick dinner recipes that feels indulgent but comes together in under 30 minutes. Ideal for busy weeknights, easy dinner ideas, or when you just need some satisfying comfort food. This dish also makes a great lunch leftover or meal prep staple.
Ingredients
12 oz rotini pasta
1 tablespoon olive oil
½ lb ground beef
½ lb Italian sausage (mild or hot)
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
4 cloves garlic, minced
3 cups fresh spinach
½ cup heavy cream
⅔ cup grated Parmesan cheese
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
¾ cup reserved pasta water
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook rotini until al dente. Reserve ¾ cup pasta water, then drain and set aside.
2. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and sausage. Cook until browned, about 6–8 minutes. Drain excess grease if needed.
3. Push the meat to one side of the skillet. Add butter to the empty space, then add minced garlic. Sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
4. Stir garlic butter into the meat mixture until fully coated.
5. Add spinach and cook for 1–2 minutes until wilted.
6. Pour in heavy cream and stir to coat. Add Parmesan cheese and mix well.
7. Gradually pour in reserved pasta water until the sauce reaches your desired consistency.
8. Add cooked rotini to the skillet and toss everything together until evenly coated.
9. Season with salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes if using.
10. Serve hot, garnished with extra Parmesan if desired.
Notes
Don’t forget to reserve the pasta water—it helps create the perfect silky sauce.
For extra flavor, try finishing the dish with a squeeze of lemon or fresh chopped parsley.
If using pre-shredded Parmesan, double-check that it melts smoothly, or grate it fresh for best results.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe
- Calories: 580
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 820mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 27g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
Keywords: weeknight pasta, garlic butter pasta, easy dinner, beef and sausage pasta, creamy rotini, spinach pasta, pasta skillet, comfort food