Description
A creamy and comforting ground beef Alfredo pasta made with tender pasta, rich heavy cream, freshly grated Parmesan, and perfectly browned ground beef, all tossed together in a flavorful skillet sauce. This easy stovetop recipe is perfect for a satisfying weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 oz pasta (fettuccine or penne)
Meat and Sauce
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Garnish
- Chopped parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta and set aside.
- Brown the Ground Beef: In a large skillet over medium heat, heat the olive oil. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it apart as it cooks, until browned and cooked through. Drain any excess grease if necessary.
- Sauté Garlic and Butter: Add the minced garlic and butter to the skillet with the beef. Sauté for about 1 minute until the garlic is fragrant and the butter has melted.
- Make the Alfredo Sauce: Stir in the heavy cream, grated Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper flakes if using, and a pinch of salt and black pepper. Simmer the sauce gently for 3 to 4 minutes until it slightly thickens.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss everything together to coat well. Use some of the reserved pasta water, a little at a time, to thin the sauce to your desired consistency.
- Finish and Garnish: Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. Serve the pasta garnished with freshly chopped parsley for a bright, fresh finish.
Notes
- For extra richness and gooey texture, stir in a handful of shredded mozzarella or a dollop of cream cheese into the sauce.
- You can substitute ground turkey or Italian sausage for the ground beef for a different flavor profile.
