🍝 Garlic Butter Linguine with Cheesy Beef & Italian Sausage
🍽️ Servings: 4–6 | ⏱️ Time: ~35–40 minutes
🧾 Ingredients:
For the Pasta:
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12 oz linguine
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4 tbsp unsalted butter
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4 cloves garlic, minced
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1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
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Salt and black pepper, to taste
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1/4 cup pasta water, reserved
For the Meat Sauce:
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1/2 lb ground beef
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1/2 lb Italian sausage (mild or spicy), casings removed
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1/2 small onion, diced
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1 tsp Italian seasoning
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Salt & pepper, to taste
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1/2 cup marinara sauce (optional, for a saucier version)
For the Cheesy Finish:
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1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella
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1/4 cup grated Parmesan
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Fresh basil or parsley, for garnish (optional)
👨🍳 Instructions:
1. Cook the pasta
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Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
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Cook linguine al dente according to package directions.
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Before draining, reserve 1/4 cup of pasta water. Set pasta aside.
2. Brown the meat
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In a large skillet over medium heat, cook ground beef and Italian sausage until browned and fully cooked, about 7–9 minutes.
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Add diced onion, cook 2–3 more minutes until softened.
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Stir in Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper to taste.
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Optional: Add marinara sauce for a more saucy version, simmer 2–3 minutes.
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Remove meat mixture from skillet and set aside (drain excess fat if needed).
3. Make garlic butter pasta
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In the same skillet, add butter and melt over medium-low heat.
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Stir in garlic and cook for 1–2 minutes, until fragrant (don’t brown it).
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Add cooked linguine and toss in the garlic butter.
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Add a splash of reserved pasta water to help coat the noodles.
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Season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if using.
4. Combine & melt cheese
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Return the meat mixture to the skillet with the pasta.
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Toss everything together gently.
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Sprinkle with mozzarella and Parmesan and either:
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Cover skillet and let cheese melt on low heat, OR
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Transfer to a baking dish, sprinkle with cheese, and broil for 2–3 minutes until golden and bubbly on top.
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5. Serve
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Garnish with chopped fresh basil or parsley.
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Serve hot, with extra Parmesan or chili flakes on the side.
🔁 Variations:
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Use penne or rigatoni for a baked pasta vibe.
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Swap linguine for zucchini noodles or gluten-free pasta.
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Add sautéed spinach, mushrooms, or cherry tomatoes for extra veggies.
Want a one-pan baked version or a low-carb adaptation? I can help with that too!