Garlic Butter Beef Bowtie Pasta With Roasted Red Pepper Cream Swirl

Looking for a pasta dish that’s both comforting and bursting with flavor? Look no further! This Garlic Butter Beef Bowtie Pasta with Roasted Red Pepper Cream Swirl is a showstopper. Tender slices of halal beef sirloin are seared to perfection, tossed with perfectly cooked bowtie pasta, and enveloped in a luscious, creamy sauce featuring the sweet smokiness of roasted red peppers. A swirl of vibrant red pepper cream adds a beautiful visual touch, while toasted pine nuts and fresh basil provide delightful texture and aroma. This recipe is surprisingly easy to make and guaranteed to impress your family and friends. Get ready to experience pasta night like never before!

What You’ll Need: The Ingredient Lineup

• 300g (10½oz) Bowtie Pasta (Farfalle): We’re using bowtie pasta, also known as farfalle, for its charming shape and ability to hold onto the creamy sauce. Choose a high-quality pasta made with durum wheat semolina for the best texture.
• 250g (9oz) Halal Beef Sirloin, Thinly Sliced: Halal beef sirloin provides a tender and flavorful protein base. Slicing it thinly ensures quick cooking and maximum tenderness. You can ask your butcher to slice it for you, or partially freeze the sirloin to make slicing easier.
• 4 Cloves Garlic, Minced: Freshly minced garlic is essential for that classic garlic butter flavor. Don’t skimp – garlic is the heart of this dish!
• 3 Tbsp (42g) Unsalted Butter: Unsalted butter allows you to control the saltiness of the dish. It adds richness and helps create a silky smooth sauce.
• 2 Tbsp (30ml) Olive Oil: Olive oil provides a healthy fat for searing the beef and adds a subtle fruity flavor. Extra virgin olive oil is a great choice.
• 150g (5½oz) Roasted Red Pepper Puree: This is the star of the show! Roasted red pepper puree delivers a sweet, smoky, and vibrant flavor to the sauce. You can make your own by roasting red bell peppers, peeling them, and blending the flesh, or purchase a high-quality pre-made puree.
• 100ml (½ cup) Heavy Cream: Heavy cream adds richness and creates a luxuriously smooth sauce. It’s what makes this pasta truly decadent.
• 100g (3½oz) Shredded Mozzarella Cheese: Mozzarella melts beautifully and adds a classic cheesy flavor. Low-moisture, part-skim mozzarella is recommended to prevent the sauce from becoming too watery.
• 50g (1½oz) Grated Parmesan Cheese: Parmesan cheese provides a salty, umami-rich flavor that complements the other ingredients. Freshly grated Parmesan is always best!
• 1 tsp (5g) Smoked Paprika: Smoked paprika adds a subtle smoky depth that enhances the flavor of the beef and red pepper.
• ½ tsp (2.5g) Freshly Ground Black Pepper: Freshly ground black pepper provides a sharp, aromatic spice.
• ½ tsp (2.5g) Salt, or to Taste: Salt enhances all the other flavors. Adjust to your preference.
• ¼ cup (15g) Fresh Basil Leaves, Chopped, Plus Extra for Garnish: Fresh basil adds a bright, herbaceous note that balances the richness of the sauce.
• 2 Tbsp (30g) Pine Nuts, Toasted: Toasted pine nuts provide a delightful crunch and nutty flavor. Toast them in a dry skillet over medium heat until golden brown.
• Zest of ½ Lemon (Optional): A touch of lemon zest brightens the flavors and adds a refreshing zing.

Let’s Make Garlic Butter Beef Bowtie Pasta: A Step-by-Step Guide

1. Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a rolling boil. Adding enough salt is crucial – it seasons the pasta from the inside out! Add the bowtie pasta and cook according to package directions, usually around 10-12 minutes, until al dente (firm to the bite). Before draining, reserve about ½ cup of the hot pasta water. This starchy water is liquid gold; it helps create a creamy, emulsified sauce. Drain the pasta and set aside.
2. Sear the Beef: While the pasta is cooking, prepare the beef. Heat 1 tablespoon of butter and 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. The combination of butter and oil provides flavor and prevents the butter from burning. Add the thinly sliced beef strips to the hot skillet. Season generously with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika. Sear for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned on all sides but still juicy. Overcooking will make the beef tough, so aim for a nice sear while keeping it tender. Transfer the seared beef to a plate and set aside.
3. Sauté the Garlic: Reduce the heat to medium. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter to the skillet. Once melted, add the minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds, until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic, as it will become bitter. Constant stirring is key here.
4. Create the Roasted Red Pepper Cream Sauce: Stir in the roasted red pepper puree and heavy cream into the skillet with the garlic-infused butter. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens slightly. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper to taste. The sauce should coat the back of a spoon.
5. Combine Pasta, Beef, and Sauce: Return the seared beef to the skillet with the red pepper cream sauce. Add the cooked pasta and the reserved pasta water. Toss everything together vigorously until the pasta is evenly coated in the vibrant pink-orange sauce. The pasta water helps bind the sauce to the pasta, creating a luscious coating.
6. Melt the Cheeses: Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan cheese over the pasta. Toss quickly until the cheeses are melted and create a glossy, cheesy coating that clings to each bowtie. The heat from the pasta and sauce will melt the cheese beautifully.
7. Plate and Garnish: Remove the skillet from the heat. Spoon the pasta onto shallow bowls. Using the back of a spoon, create a decorative swirl of the red pepper cream sauce across the center of each plate. This adds a beautiful visual element to the dish. Finish each serving with a scattering of toasted pine nuts, a generous handful of chopped fresh basil, and a light zest of lemon (if using). Serve immediately while hot and melty.

Why Bowtie Pasta? The Shape Matters!

Bowtie pasta, or farfalle, isn’t just a pretty face. Its unique shape with pinched centers and ruffled edges is perfect for capturing and holding onto sauces. The nooks and crannies of the bowtie pasta ensure that every bite is bursting with the flavorful garlic butter beef and roasted red pepper cream sauce. It provides a delightful textural experience, making each mouthful a little bit special.

The Magic of Roasted Red Peppers

Using roasted red pepper puree instead of raw peppers is a game-changer. Roasting the peppers intensifies their sweetness and creates a smoky depth of flavor that complements the beef and garlic beautifully. The roasting process also softens the peppers, making them blend seamlessly into the creamy sauce. You can roast your own peppers or purchase pre-roasted peppers in a jar for convenience.

Elevating the Flavor with Smoked Paprika

Smoked paprika is the secret ingredient that adds a subtle smoky complexity to this dish. It enhances the savory flavors of the beef and complements the sweetness of the roasted red peppers. A little goes a long way, so start with 1 teaspoon and adjust to your preference. If you don’t have smoked paprika, you can use sweet paprika, but the smoky flavor will be missed.

Tips for Perfectly Toasted Pine Nuts

Toasting pine nuts enhances their flavor and adds a delightful crunch to the pasta. You can toast them in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-5 minutes, stirring frequently, until golden brown and fragrant. Watch them carefully, as they burn easily. Alternatively, you can toast them in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 5-7 minutes. Let them cool slightly before sprinkling them over the pasta.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a different type of pasta?

While bowtie pasta is ideal, you can substitute it with other short pasta shapes like penne, fusilli, or rotini. Just make sure to cook it al dente.

Can I make this dish ahead of time?

This dish is best served immediately. However, you can prepare the sauce and sear the beef ahead of time. Store them separately in the refrigerator and combine them with the cooked pasta just before serving.

Is it possible to make this spicier?

Absolutely! Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce for a little heat. You can also use a spicy Italian sausage instead of beef.

Enjoy Your Delicious Creation!

This Garlic Butter Beef Bowtie Pasta with Roasted Red Pepper Cream Swirl is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. The combination of savory beef, creamy sauce, and perfectly cooked pasta is simply irresistible. Don’t forget to save this recipe to Pinterest for later!

garlic butter beef cheesy bowtie pasta 2

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

• Author: Alyssa Bennett
• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 4 servings 1x
• Diet: General

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

This Garlic Butter Beef Bowtie Pasta features tender beef sirloin tossed with bowtie pasta in a creamy roasted red pepper sauce. Toasted pine nuts and fresh basil add delightful texture and aroma.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 300g (10½oz) Bowtie Pasta (Farfalle)
• 250g (9oz) Halal Beef Sirloin, Thinly Sliced
• 4 Cloves Garlic, Minced
• 3 Tbsp (42g) Unsalted Butter
• 2 Tbsp (30ml) Olive Oil
• 150g (5½oz) Roasted Red Pepper Puree
• 100ml (½ cup) Heavy Cream
• 100g (3½oz) Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
• 50g (1½oz) Grated Parmesan Cheese
• 1 tsp (5g) Smoked Paprika
• ½ tsp (2.5g) Freshly Ground Black Pepper
• ½ tsp (2.5g) Salt
• ¼ cup (15g) Fresh Basil Leaves, Chopped
• 2 Tbsp (30g) Pine Nuts, Toasted
• Zest of ½ Lemon (Optional)

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Cook the Pasta: Boil pasta until al dente, reserving ½ cup pasta water.
2. Sear the Beef: Sear thinly sliced beef with butter, oil, paprika, salt, and pepper until browned.
3. Sauté the Garlic: Sauté minced garlic in butter until fragrant.
4. Create the Sauce: Simmer roasted red pepper puree and heavy cream with garlic.
5. Combine: Toss pasta, beef, sauce, and pasta water together.
6. Melt Cheese: Stir in mozzarella and Parmesan until melted.
7. Plate and Garnish: Serve with a sauce swirl, pine nuts, basil, and lemon zest.

Notes

Reserving pasta water helps create a creamy sauce. Toast pine nuts for enhanced flavor.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Category: Pasta
• Method: Skillet
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 cup
• Calories: 650 kcal
• Sugar: 15 g
• Sodium: 500 mg
• Fat: 35 g
• Saturated Fat: 15 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 60 g
• Fiber: 5 g
• Protein: 30 g
• Cholesterol: 100 mg