Garlic Butter Linguine with Cheesy Beef & Italian Sausage

Garlic Butter Linguine with Cheesy Beef & Italian Sausage

🧄 Ingredients:

For the Pasta:

• 12 oz linguine

• 3 tbsp butter

• 4 cloves garlic, minced

• ¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)

• Salt and pepper to taste

• ¼ cup pasta water (reserved)

For the Meat Sauce:

• ½ lb ground beef

• ½ lb Italian sausage (mild or hot, removed from casing)

• 1 small onion, finely chopped

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• ½ tsp dried oregano

• ½ tsp Italian seasoning

• Salt and pepper to taste

• 1 cup marinara or tomato sauce (optional for a red sauce version)

For the Cheese:

• 1½ cups shredded mozzarella

• ¼ cup grated Parmesan or Pecorino Romano

• Optional: ½ cup ricotta or cream cheese for creamier texture

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👩‍🍳 Instructions:

1. Cook the Linguine:

• Boil linguine in salted water until al dente.

• Drain, reserve ¼ cup pasta water, and set aside.

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2. Make the Garlic Butter:

• In a large skillet, melt 3 tbsp butter over medium heat.

• Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes (if using), and sauté for 1–2 minutes until fragrant.

• Turn off heat and toss in cooked linguine. Add a splash of pasta water to loosen, if needed. Set aside.

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3. Cook the Meat:

• In another skillet, cook beef and sausage over medium-high heat, breaking it up as it browns.

• Add onion, cook until soft (5–6 min).

• Stir in garlic, oregano, Italian seasoning, and season with salt and pepper.

• (Optional) Stir in 1 cup marinara sauce if you want a saucier version. Simmer 5 minutes.

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4. Combine & Add Cheese:

• Toss the garlic butter linguine with the meat mixture.

• Stir in mozzarella and Parmesan while everything is still hot, so the cheese melts in.

• For extra creaminess, fold in a bit of ricotta or cream cheese.

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5. Serve:

• Garnish with chopped parsley or basil, and an extra sprinkle of Parmesan.

• Serve hot with garlic bread and a green salad if you like.

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🔄 Optional Add-Ins:

• Sautéed mushrooms or spinach

• Roasted red peppers

• Sun-dried tomatoes

• A splash of white wine in the garlic butter