🍝🧄 Garlic Butter Linguine with Cheesy Beef and Italian Sausage 🧀🔥
Rich garlic butter pasta topped with savory beef, Italian sausage, wilted spinach, and bubbly melted cheese — pure comfort food bliss!
This dish combines everything you love about creamy baked pasta and hearty meat sauce — all wrapped in garlicky butter-coated linguine and finished under the broiler until golden and irresistible.
It’s cozy. It’s cheesy. It’s weeknight-friendly but dinner-party worthy.
⏱️ Recipe Overview
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Yield: 4 servings
🛒 Ingredients
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12 ounces linguine
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½ pound ground beef
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½ pound Italian sausage (casings removed)
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3 tablespoons unsalted butter
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2 tablespoons olive oil
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4 cloves garlic, minced
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½ teaspoon salt
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½ teaspoon black pepper
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½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
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2 cups fresh spinach
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1 cup marinara sauce
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½ cup heavy cream
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1½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
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¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
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¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
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Fresh basil or parsley, for garnish
🔥 Step-by-Step Instructions
1️⃣ Cook the Linguine
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
Cook linguine until al dente according to package instructions.
Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain.
2️⃣ Brown the Meat
In a large skillet over medium heat:
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Add olive oil
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Cook ground beef and Italian sausage until browned
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Break up the meat as it cooks
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Drain excess grease
This combo gives the perfect balance of rich beef flavor and seasoned sausage spice.
3️⃣ Add Garlic & Seasoning
Stir in:
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Minced garlic
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Salt
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Black pepper
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Italian seasoning
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Red pepper flakes (if using)
Cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
4️⃣ Create the Creamy Sauce
Add marinara sauce and heavy cream to the skillet.
Simmer for 5–7 minutes until slightly thickened and creamy.
The cream softens the acidity of the tomato sauce and creates that silky texture.
5️⃣ Wilt the Spinach
Stir in fresh spinach and cook until wilted — about 1–2 minutes.
It adds freshness and balances the richness.
6️⃣ Toss the Pasta
In a large bowl, toss the cooked linguine with butter until coated.
Add the pasta to the skillet and mix everything together.
If needed, add a splash of reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce.