Description
Creamy Ground Beef Alfredo Pasta is a comforting and rich dish featuring velvety Alfredo sauce combined with hearty ground beef and perfectly cooked pasta. Ready in under 30 minutes, it offers a quick, family-friendly meal with customizable options to suit any preference. This recipe balances indulgent creaminess with savory protein, making it ideal for busy weeknights or special dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 8 ounces fettuccine pasta (or your favorite pasta shape)
- 1 pound ground beef (lean or regular, based on preference)
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside, reserving a bit of the pasta water for later use.
- Brown the ground beef: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until browned and fully cooked, breaking it apart as it cooks. Drain any excess fat if desired.
- Sauté garlic: Add butter to the skillet with the beef, then stir in the minced garlic. Cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant but not browned.
- Make the Alfredo sauce: Pour in the heavy cream while stirring constantly. Let it simmer gently until it thickens slightly, about 3-5 minutes. Add the Parmesan cheese and stir until melted and fully incorporated.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss to coat evenly. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water to loosen it to desired consistency.
- Season and serve: Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and optional Italian herbs. Toss everything together once more and serve warm for the best creamy indulgence.
Notes
- Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for superior flavor and melting quality.
- Do not overcook the pasta; slightly undercooked pasta helps absorb the sauce perfectly.
- Simmer the cream gently without boiling to prevent curdling and keep the sauce silky.
- Reserve pasta water to thin and bind the sauce to the pasta effectively.
- Season the dish in layers by seasoning the beef, sauce, and pasta separately for balanced flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 650 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 40 g
- Saturated Fat: 22 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg
Keywords: Creamy Alfredo, ground beef pasta, quick dinner, comfort food, fettuccine alfredo, easy pasta recipe