Unlock the secret to effortless weeknight dinners with this incredible One-Pot Ground Beef Alfredo Pasta! Imagine a creamy, rich Alfredo sauce infused with savory ground beef, all cooked to perfection in a single pot – no need to pre-boil pasta, saving you precious time and a mountain of dishes. This isn’t just a meal; it’s a culinary triumph for busy individuals and families alike, promising a delicious, hearty dish that tastes like it took hours, but comes together in under 40 minutes. Get ready to transform your dinner routine with this ultimate comfort food that’s destined to become a staple in your recipe collection.
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Why You’ll Love This One-Pot Ground Beef Alfredo Pasta
This Easy Ground Beef Alfredo Pasta isn’t just another dinner recipe; it’s a testament to how simple and incredibly satisfying home cooking can be. Here’s why this creamy beef pasta will quickly earn a spot in your weekly rotation:
Unbeatable Convenience with One Pot: Say goodbye to multiple dirty pots and pans! This entire creamy ground beef pasta dish comes together in just one pot. You’ll brown your seasoned ground beef and sauté the aromatics, then add the liquids and pasta directly into the same pot. The pasta cooks directly in the flavorful sauce, absorbing all the rich taste and eliminating the need for a separate boiling pot. This streamlined process means less time spent on cleanup and more time enjoying your delicious meal.
Ultimate Comfort Food Experience: Indulge in the pure bliss of a perfectly balanced meal. Each forkful delivers juicy, well-seasoned ground beef enveloped in a lusciously creamy, Parmesan-rich Alfredo sauce. The texture is velvety smooth, and the flavors are deeply savory and comforting. This homemade Alfredo with ground beef is the kind of dinner that truly warms the soul, making it ideal for a cozy night in or a family gathering.
Speedy & Satisfying Weeknight Solution: From start to finish, this quick ground beef pasta is ready to serve in approximately 35 minutes. It’s the ideal solution for those hectic weeknights when you need a wholesome, satisfying meal on the table fast, without compromising on flavor or quality. Whether you’re cooking for a hungry family or just yourself, this recipe delivers maximum impact with minimal effort.
Incredibly Versatile & Easy to Adapt: This recipe is a fantastic canvas for your culinary creativity. Easily switch up the pasta shape, experiment with different ground meats like turkey or sausage, or boost the nutritional value by tossing in extra vegetables such as spinach, mushrooms, or bell peppers. Want a little kick? Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a touch of Cajun seasoning to transform the flavor profile. It’s truly a dish that can be customized to your taste and what you have on hand.
Delicious Leftovers (If There Are Any!): While this dish is so good there rarely are leftovers, rest assured that it reheats beautifully. The flavors meld and deepen overnight, making for an even more delicious meal the next day. A splash of extra cream or broth can easily revive the silky texture of the sauce, making it taste just as fresh and creamy as when it first came out of the pot. This makes it perfect for meal prepping or packing for lunch.
Key Ingredients for Your Ground Beef Alfredo
Crafting a truly exceptional One-Pot Ground Beef Alfredo starts with quality ingredients. Each component plays a vital role in building the robust flavor and creamy texture of this family-favorite pasta dish.
- Ground Beef: Choose a lean-to-fat ratio that suits your preference. A slightly higher fat content (like 80/20) can add more flavor, but remember to drain excess grease.
- Onions: Diced onions provide a foundational aromatic sweetness that balances the richness of the beef and cream.
- Green Bell Peppers: Adds a subtle crunch, freshness, and a vibrant color, complementing the savory notes of the beef.
- Garlic: Freshly minced garlic is essential for that classic Italian-American flavor profile, deepening the overall taste of the sauce.
- Canned Fire Roasted Tomatoes: These tomatoes add a smoky depth and a touch of acidity, preventing the Alfredo sauce from becoming too heavy and adding a delightful complexity.
- Beef Broth: Used as the primary liquid for cooking the pasta, it infuses every strand with savory beef flavor, far superior to plain water.
- Heavy Whipping Cream: The cornerstone of any rich Alfredo sauce, providing luxurious creaminess and body.
- Pasta: The star carb that soaks up all the incredible flavors. (More on pasta choices below!)
- Parmesan Cheese: Freshly grated Parmesan is non-negotiable for authentic, salty, nutty Alfredo flavor and a smooth melt.
- Italian Seasoning: A blend of classic herbs like oregano, basil, thyme, and rosemary that enhances both the beef and the sauce.
- Salt and Pepper: Essential for seasoning every layer of the dish, always adjust to your taste.
Choosing the Best Pasta for Alfredo
When it comes to Alfredo pasta with ground beef, the type of pasta you choose can significantly impact the dish’s overall experience. Traditional Alfredo often features long, flat pasta shapes that are perfect for clinging to rich, creamy sauces.
Fettuccine and linguine are undeniably popular choices for Alfredo sauce. Their broad, flat surfaces act like little conveyor belts, allowing the luscious, creamy Alfredo sauce to adhere beautifully to each strand. This ensures a delightful combination of flavors and textures in every single bite.
However, don’t feel limited to tradition! This versatile one-pot pasta recipe allows you to use almost any pasta shape you prefer. Here are some excellent options, each offering a unique textural experience:
- Spaghetti: If you prefer a thinner, more delicate pasta, spaghetti is a fantastic alternative. Its long strands still intertwine well with the ground beef and sauce.
- Penne: This tubular pasta is a great choice for heartier dishes. The hollow center and ridged exterior of penne pasta expertly trap the creamy sauce, creating pockets of flavor that burst in your mouth.
- Rigatoni: Similar to penne but often larger with more pronounced ridges, rigatoni offers an even more robust texture. Its structure is excellent for holding onto thick sauces, making it a very satisfying choice for a beef Alfredo.
- Farfalle (Bowtie pasta): The charming bowtie shape of farfalle adds a playful visual appeal to your dish. More importantly, its ruffled edges and folded center are superb at catching and holding the creamy sauce, ensuring every piece is coated in flavor.
- Rotini or Fusilli: These corkscrew-shaped pastas are champions at trapping sauce within their spirals, ensuring a flavorful bite every time.
No matter which pasta you select, remember that since it cooks directly in the sauce in this one-pot method, it will absorb more of the liquid and flavors, resulting in an exceptionally tasty pasta base.
The Secret to Perfect Alfredo: Cheese Selection
The soul of any authentic Alfredo sauce lies in its cheese, and for good reason. Parmesan cheese is the traditional choice, and it’s celebrated for its ability to impart a rich, salty, and distinctively nutty flavor that perfectly complements the creamy base of the sauce. This depth of flavor is what elevates a simple cream sauce into a truly memorable Alfredo.
For the absolute best flavor and texture in your ground beef Alfredo pasta, there’s a crucial tip: always opt for freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Avoid the pre-shredded bagged varieties found in most supermarkets. These convenient bags often contain anti-caking agents, such as cellulose or potato starch, which are added to prevent the cheese from clumping together and extend its shelf life. While practical for storage, these coatings interfere significantly with the cheese’s ability to melt smoothly. They can lead to a grainy or clumpy sauce texture, preventing that velvety, homogeneous consistency you crave in a perfect Alfredo.
When you grate your Parmesan cheese fresh from a block, you get pure cheese without any additives or preservatives. This ensures that the cheese melts beautifully and evenly into the hot cream, creating a silken, luxurious sauce that perfectly coats every strand of pasta and piece of ground beef. The difference in taste and texture is truly transformative.
While Parmesan is king, feel free to experiment with other hard, grating cheeses if you prefer. Pecorino Romano, for instance, offers a sharper, saltier kick that some may enjoy. Ultimately, you can use whatever type of cheese you prefer in this recipe, but for that authentic, restaurant-quality Alfredo, fresh Parmesan is highly recommended.
Essential Cookware for a True One-Pot Experience
The magic of this one-pot ground beef Alfredo hinges on using the right vessel. To truly embrace the convenience and efficiency of a single-pot meal, you’ll need a piece of cookware that’s large enough and versatile enough to handle every stage of the cooking process – from browning the ground beef to simmering the pasta and creating the luscious Alfredo sauce.
The ideal cookware for this recipe is a large, deep skillet, a wide saucepan, or a Dutch oven. Here’s why these options are perfect:
- Large, Deep Skillet: A skillet with high sides (at least 3-4 inches deep) and a wide base is excellent. The wide base provides ample surface area for browning the ground beef evenly, developing rich flavors, while the deep sides ensure there’s enough room to hold all the pasta and sauce without overflowing during simmering.
- Wide Saucepan: Similar to a deep skillet, a wide saucepan offers the necessary capacity and surface area for browning and then simmering. Look for one that’s at least 4-5 quarts to comfortably fit all the ingredients.
- Dutch Oven: This is often the preferred choice for many one-pot meals, and for good reason. A Dutch oven (like this one) excels at retaining and distributing heat evenly, which is crucial for perfectly cooked pasta and a consistently creamy sauce. Its heavy construction prevents scorching, and its ample size (typically 5-7 quarts) easily accommodates the entire dish. I often use this pan from Amazon for its versatility and performance in such dishes.
This type of cookware allows you to seamlessly transition from browning the meat and sautéing vegetables to adding liquids and cooking the pasta, all within the same pot. This not only concentrates flavors but also drastically cuts down on cleanup time – a major benefit of any easy weeknight dinner.
Of course, if you prefer to cook your pasta separately according to package instructions and combine it later, you are welcome to do so. However, for the true one-pot experience and the deepest flavor infusion into your pasta, using a single, appropriate piece of cookware is highly recommended.
Step-by-Step: How to Make One-Pot Beef Alfredo
Creating this delicious One-Pot Ground Beef Alfredo Pasta is simpler than you might think. Follow these straightforward steps to achieve a rich, creamy, and satisfying meal. Detailed measurements and full instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Prepare Your Pot: Begin by placing a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven on your stove over medium-high heat. Ensure it’s large enough to comfortably hold all the ingredients, especially the pasta.
- Brown the Ground Beef: Add the ground beef to the hot pot. Using a meat chopper, wooden spoon, or silicone spatula, break down the beef into crumbles. Season it generously with your chosen spices, including Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Cook until the beef is fully browned and no longer pink, stirring occasionally.
- Sauté Aromatics: Once the beef is browned, add the diced onions, green bell peppers, and minced garlic to the pot. Stir them into the beef mixture and cook until the vegetables soften and the garlic becomes fragrant, typically 3-5 minutes. This step builds a foundational layer of flavor.
- Introduce Tomatoes: Stir in the drained canned fire-roasted diced tomatoes. Cook for another minute or two, allowing the flavors to meld and the tomatoes to heat through.
- Remove Beef Mixture: Carefully remove the cooked ground beef and vegetable mixture from the pan and set it aside. If there’s a significant amount of excess fat, drain most of it, leaving just a tablespoon or two for flavor and to coat the pan.
- Build the Alfredo Base: Return the same pot to medium-high heat. Pour in the beef broth (starting with 1 cup) and heavy whipping cream. Stir in the Italian seasoning and any optional Cajun seasoning, along with salt and pepper to taste. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, stirring frequently.
- Add the Pasta: Once the creamy liquid is bubbling, add your chosen pasta directly into the pot. If using long pasta like linguine or spaghetti, it will gradually soften and submerge into the sauce as it cooks. There’s no need to break it.
- Simmer and Cook Pasta: Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the pot, and let the pasta simmer for 10-15 minutes, or until it reaches an al dente texture. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking and ensure even cooking. If the pasta isn’t completely submerged in sauce, add additional broth a quarter cup at a time until it is.
- Finish with Cheese and Combine: Once the pasta is cooked, sprinkle in the grated Parmesan cheese. Gently fold the cheese into the pasta and sauce until it’s fully melted and creates a rich, creamy consistency. Then, return the reserved ground beef and vegetable mixture to the pot. Fold everything together until all ingredients are well combined and coated in the velvety sauce.
- Serve: Remove from heat and let it cool slightly before serving. Enjoy your homemade, comforting One-Pot Ground Beef Alfredo Pasta!
Creative Variations and Substitutions for Your Beef Alfredo
One of the best aspects of this One-Pot Ground Beef Alfredo Pasta is its incredible adaptability. It’s a versatile base that you can easily customize to fit your dietary preferences, what you have on hand, or simply to introduce new flavors. Don’t hesitate to get creative in the kitchen!
Meat Substitutions:
While ground beef is fantastic in this recipe, it’s easy to swap it out for other proteins:
- Ground Turkey or Ground Chicken: For a lighter alternative, ground turkey or chicken work wonderfully. Be sure to season them well, as they are leaner and can be less flavorful than beef on their own.
- Ground Sausage (Italian Sausage): Add a burst of savory, sometimes spicy, flavor with ground Italian sausage. Both mild and hot varieties are excellent choices and will infuse the entire dish with a different dimension of taste.
- Sausage Rounds or Crumbled Bacon: Pre-cooked sausage rounds (sliced) or crispy crumbled bacon can be stirred in at the end for added texture and a smoky, salty punch.
- Seafood: For an elegant twist, consider adding cooked shrimp, scallops, or even flaked salmon or crab meat. These delicate proteins pair beautifully with creamy Alfredo. Add them in the final few minutes of cooking to avoid overcooking.
- Omit the Meat Completely: For a vegetarian version, simply omit the meat and perhaps add extra vegetables or even some hearty chickpeas or white beans for protein.
Flavor and Vegetable Additions:
Enhance your creamy Alfredo pasta with these delicious stir-ins:
- Fresh Herbs: A generous sprinkle of freshly chopped basil or parsley at the end brightens the dish and adds a vibrant burst of color and herbaceousness.
- Spicy Kick: If you love a little heat, red pepper flakes can be added along with the Italian seasoning for a pleasant warmth.
- Mushrooms: Sliced and sautéed mushrooms (cremini, button, or shiitake) are a classic pairing with beef and cream sauces, adding an earthy depth.
- Tomatoes: Beyond fire-roasted, you can stir in fresh diced tomatoes or halved cherry tomatoes towards the end for a juicy, fresh burst and a slight acidity.
- Leafy Greens: Boost your vegetable intake by folding in fresh spinach or kale during the last few minutes of cooking. They will wilt beautifully into the hot sauce, adding nutrients without overpowering the flavor.
- Olives: Sliced black or green olives can introduce a briny, salty element that contrasts nicely with the richness of the Alfredo.
- Sun-dried Tomatoes: For an intense, concentrated sweet-tart flavor, chop up some oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes and stir them in with the sauce.
- Artichoke Hearts: Canned or marinated artichoke hearts (drained and chopped) offer a unique tangy taste and tender texture.
- Capers: These tiny flower buds provide a distinctive briny and salty pop, adding another layer of complexity to the sauce.
- Cheese Varieties: While Parmesan is traditional, consider adding a mix of cheeses. A little grated Pecorino Romano can add a sharper, saltier edge, or a touch of mozzarella can enhance the melty, gooey factor.
Experimenting with these variations can help you create a personalized Alfredo pasta dish that perfectly suits your taste every time.
Expert Tips for Making the Best Ground Beef Alfredo Pasta
Achieving a truly exceptional One-Pot Ground Beef Alfredo Pasta is all about a few key techniques and considerations. These expert tips will help ensure your dish is packed with flavor, perfectly textured, and a resounding success every time.
Season That Beef Well from the Start: This is a foundational step that many overlook. Don’t just toss your ground beef into the pan without proper seasoning. Instead, give it some serious love with a generous amount of salt, freshly ground black pepper, and your Italian seasoning blend while it’s browning. Since the beef forms the flavor base of this entire dish, seasoning it early and thoroughly ensures that every bite is infused with savory goodness, building a much deeper and more complex flavor profile.
Manage the Grease (But Keep Some!): If you’re using ground beef with a higher fat content (like 80/20), it’s important to drain most of the excess grease after browning. However, don’t drain every last drop! Leaving a tablespoon or two of the rendered beef fat in the pan is a smart move. This flavorful fat helps to create a rich fond (those delicious browned bits stuck to the bottom of the pan) which will contribute incredible depth to your sauce once deglazed. It also helps the creamy Alfredo sauce cling beautifully to the pasta and adds an undeniable richness to the dish.
Opt for Broth Over Plain Water: When it comes time to simmer the pasta, resist the urge to just use water. Cooking the pasta directly in beef broth (or chicken or vegetable broth) is a game-changer for this creamy beef pasta. As the pasta absorbs the liquid, it will soak up all the savory notes from the broth, infusing every single strand with a more profound and layered flavor. This prevents the pasta from tasting flat or diluted, ensuring a cohesive and delicious overall taste.
Don’t Overcook the Pasta: Since the pasta cooks directly in the sauce in this one-pot method, it requires a bit more vigilance than boiling in water. Keep a close eye on it, stirring occasionally to ensure it cooks evenly and doesn’t stick. Begin testing for doneness a few minutes before the package’s recommended cooking time. You’re aiming for “al dente” – tender but still with a slight bite – not mushy. Overcooked pasta can quickly ruin the texture of your entire dish.
Use Freshly Grated Parmesan: As mentioned, freshly grated Parmesan cheese is crucial for a smooth, velvety Alfredo sauce. Pre-shredded varieties contain anti-caking agents that can make your sauce gritty or lumpy. Take the extra minute to grate your own for a truly superior result.
Taste and Adjust Seasoning: This is perhaps the most important tip for any cook. Taste your sauce and pasta mixture at various stages, especially after adding the cream and broth, and again after the cheese. Adjust the salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning as needed. Remember, flavors can become more muted as ingredients cook together, so a final seasoning adjustment can make all the difference.
What to Serve With Your Creamy Ground Beef Alfredo
A hearty and rich dish like One-Pot Ground Beef Alfredo Pasta pairs beautifully with sides that offer contrast in texture and flavor, often something fresh or acidic to cut through the creaminess. Here are some fantastic suggestions to complete your meal:
Garlic Bread or Cheesy Breadsticks: This is a classic pairing for a reason! That rich, creamy Alfredo sauce is practically begging to be soaked up with something warm, buttery, and garlicky. Whether you opt for crispy garlic bread slices or soft, cheesy breadsticks, they are perfect for scooping up every last drop of the delicious sauce.
A Simple Green Salad: A fresh, crisp green salad is the ideal counterpoint to the richness of the pasta. Keep it light and vibrant—mixed greens with a tangy vinaigrette, or even just crisp romaine lettuce tossed with a simple dressing of olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. The acidity of the dressing will beautifully cut through the creaminess of the Alfredo.
Roasted Vegetables: Roasting brings out the natural sweetness and a slight char in vegetables, making them a delicious and easy side. Broccoli, asparagus, zucchini, or Brussels sprouts tossed with a little olive oil, salt, and pepper, then roasted until tender-crisp, are excellent choices. They add a healthy component without stealing the spotlight from your main dish.
Sautéed Spinach or Green Beans: For a quick and effortless vegetable side that keeps the cleanup to a minimum, sautéed greens are perfect. Fresh spinach wilts quickly in a pan with a touch of garlic, or green beans can be quickly steamed and then sautéed with a bit of butter or olive oil. A squeeze of fresh lemon juice at the end will brighten their flavor, providing a welcome freshness that balances the creamy richness of the Ground Beef Alfredo.
Caprese Salad: A fresh Caprese salad with ripe tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and basil, drizzled with balsamic glaze, offers a burst of refreshing flavors and colors, providing a lovely contrast.
Storing and Reheating Leftover Hamburger Alfredo
This One-Pot Ground Beef Alfredo Pasta is so delicious that leftovers are a rare treat! However, if you do find yourself with extra, proper storage and reheating techniques are key to enjoying it just as much the second time around.
Leftovers can be stored tightly covered and sealed in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Ensure it cools completely before refrigerating to maintain freshness and prevent bacterial growth.
Freezing Your Ground Beef Alfredo
Yes, you can freeze this delicious dish! While creamy sauces can sometimes alter in texture upon thawing, this pasta freezes quite well. Portion the cooled Alfredo into freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags. It can be stored for up to a couple of months. To enjoy, defrost it overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Reheating for Optimal Creaminess
Reheating Alfredo sauce can be a little tricky because its creamy emulsion has a tendency to break or become clumpy if not handled properly. The key is gentle heat and often, a little extra liquid. Alfredo sauce naturally thickens as it cools, so don’t be surprised if your leftovers appear much thicker than when freshly made. You’ll almost certainly need to add a splash more cream or milk to adjust the consistency when reheating.
Stovetop Reheating (Recommended Method):
- Transfer the desired amount of leftover hamburger Alfredo to a saucepan or skillet.
- Add a small amount of heavy cream, milk, or even a little chicken/beef broth (start with 2-3 tablespoons per serving). This extra liquid will help loosen the sauce.
- Heat gently over medium-low heat, stirring constantly. The goal is to warm it through slowly, allowing the sauce to re-emulsify without separating or scorching.
- Continue stirring until it’s heated to your desired temperature and the sauce is smooth and creamy again. Add more liquid if needed to reach your preferred consistency.
Microwave Reheating (Use with Caution):
While possible, use the microwave with caution to prevent the sauce from drying out or separating. This method can be less forgiving.
- Place your leftovers in a microwave-safe dish.
- Add a splash of cream or milk (1-2 tablespoons per serving).
- Heat in short intervals, typically 15 to 30 seconds at a time.
- Stir thoroughly after each interval. Continue this process until the dish is warm and creamy. Overheating will cause the dish to dry out and the sauce to break.
A unique characteristic of this one-pot ground beef Alfredo is that the pasta and ground beef will heavily absorb the rich pasta sauce as it sits. This is actually a fantastic thing, as it means your leftovers are bursting with even deeper, more concentrated flavors! If you prefer a very saucy dish, definitely follow the tip above about adding additional liquid during reheating to achieve that luscious, flowing consistency.
Perfect Pairings: Delicious Side Dishes
Elevate your One-Pot Ground Beef Alfredo Pasta into a complete and unforgettable meal with these expertly selected side dishes. Each recipe is designed to complement the rich, creamy flavors of the Alfredo, adding balance, freshness, and another layer of deliciousness to your dinner table.
Crispy Air Fryer Garlic Bread
Nothing pairs better with a creamy pasta dish than warm, crusty garlic bread. Our Air Fryer Garlic Bread recipe delivers perfectly toasted, garlicky slices with minimal effort, ideal for soaking up every last drop of that amazing Alfredo sauce.
Vibrant Air Fryer Green Beans
Add a pop of color and a healthy crunch with these easy Air Fryer Green Beans. They’re seasoned to perfection and cook up quickly, providing a light and fresh contrast to the hearty Alfredo.
Flavorful Air Fryer Roasted Garlic
If you’re a garlic lover, this side is a must-try. Sweet, mellow roasted garlic made effortlessly in your air fryer can be spread on bread or simply enjoyed on its own, adding another dimension of flavor to your meal.
Tender Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Garlic
These roasted Brussels sprouts are caramelized and tender-crisp, infused with garlic for a savory, slightly bitter counterpoint that beautifully balances the richness of the Ground Beef Alfredo. They’re a fantastic way to get more greens on your plate.
More Inspiring Pasta Recipes
If you’re a fan of delicious, easy-to-make pasta dishes like our One-Pot Ground Beef Alfredo, you’ll love exploring these other fantastic recipes. From light and lemony to rich and cheesy, there’s a pasta dish here for every craving and occasion.
Bright & Zesty Lemon Chicken Pasta with Garlic and Parmesan
A refreshing and flavorful pasta dish featuring tender chicken, a zesty lemon-garlic sauce, and a generous sprinkle of Parmesan. Perfect for a lighter, yet satisfying, meal.
Creamy Slow Cooker Crockpot Mac and Cheese with Uncooked Pasta
Indulge in ultimate comfort with this incredibly easy mac and cheese recipe that cooks entirely in your slow cooker, starting with uncooked pasta for minimal fuss.
Spicy & Cheesy Taco Pasta
Combine your love for tacos and pasta in this fun, family-friendly dish. Seasoned ground beef, taco flavors, and plenty of cheese come together for a unique weeknight dinner.
Elegant Seafood Stuffed Shells
Impress your guests or treat yourself to these generously sized pasta shells filled with a rich blend of seafood and creamy cheese, then baked to perfection.
Hearty Southern Chicken Spaghetti
A true Southern comfort classic, this chicken spaghetti features tender shredded chicken in a creamy, cheesy sauce, baked with spaghetti for a satisfying family meal.
Classic Spaghetti with Sausage
A timeless favorite, this recipe combines savory sausage with a rich tomato sauce and spaghetti for a simple yet incredibly flavorful Italian-American dinner.
Decadent Scallops and Pasta
For seafood enthusiasts, this elegant dish features perfectly seared scallops served over a delicate pasta, bathed in a flavorful sauce.
Don’t forget to check out our collection of 25 Delicious Recipes With Ground Beef for even more inspiration!
Ground Beef Alfredo Recipe
Brandi Crawford
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Equipment
- Cast Iron Dutch Oven
- Meat Chopper
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon Cajun Seasoning Optional for spicy kick.
- ½ cup diced onions
- ½ cup diced green peppers
- 2-3 garlic cloves Minced
- 14.5 oz canned fire roasted diced tomatoes Drained
Pasta and Alfredo Sauce
- 1-2 cups broth (beef, vegetable, or chicken) or water. Broth adds additional flavor.
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon Cajun seasoning Optional for spicy kick.
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 8-10 oz pasta I used linguine. See notes. 8oz of pasta will result in a creamier texture.
- 1 ½ cups grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Place a large skillet (large enough to fit the pasta and ground beef) or Dutch oven on the stove at medium-high heat.
- Add the ground beef. Break down the ground beef using a meat chopper, wooden, or silicone spoon. Season the ground beef with the spices.1 pound ground beef, 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning, Salt and pepper to taste, 1 teaspoon Cajun Seasoning
- Add in the onions, green peppers, and minced garlic. Stir and cook until the meat is fully cooked, no longer pink, and the onions and garlic are fragrant.½ cup diced onions, ½ cup diced green peppers, 2-3 garlic cloves
- Add in the diced tomatoes and stir.14.5 oz canned fire roasted diced tomatoes
- Remove the ground beef and vegetables from the pan and set aside. Drain any excess fat from the beef.
- Place the same pan or pot on the stove at medium-high heat. Add the broth and heavy cream to the pot. Start with 1 cup of broth. Taste the sauce repeatedly and add salt and additional spices as necessary to suit your taste.1-2 cups broth (beef, vegetable, or chicken), 1 cup heavy whipping cream, ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning, ½ teaspoon Cajun seasoning, Salt and pepper to taste
- Once the mixture begins to boil and bubble add in the pasta. The pasta should wilt down without the need to break it.8-10 oz pasta
- Once the pasta has wilted and is fully covered in the sauce, adjust the heat to medium and cover the pot. If the pasta isn’t completely submerged in sauce, add additional broth as needed.
- Simmer the pasta for 10-15 minutes or until the pasta is al dente. Sprinkle in the Parmesan cheese and fold to combine.1 ½ cups grated Parmesan cheese
- Add the ground beef mixture to the pasta and sauce. Fold to combine the ingredients.
- Cool before serving.
Notes
You can use any pasta you prefer in the recipe: linguine, fettuccine, spaghetti, penne, rigatoni, or farfalle are all excellent choices.
For protein variations, you can easily substitute ground turkey, ground chicken, ground sausage (Italian sausage works great, too), sausage rounds, or even seafood like shrimp. If you prefer a vegetarian dish, simply omit the meat.
Any type of canned tomatoes can be used; fire-roasted add a lovely smoky depth, but regular diced or crushed tomatoes will also work well.
While heavy cream is recommended for the richest, thickest Alfredo, you can use half-and-half or milk for a lighter sauce. Be aware that this will alter the texture, making it less thick and potentially a bit more watery.
If you prefer to cook your pasta separately in a different pot, you can certainly do so according to the package instructions and then combine it with the prepared beef Alfredo sauce.
The pasta noodles and ground beef will absorb a good amount of the sauce as the dish cooks and sits. This means it may not be an overly saucy dish once cooled. If you prefer a more saucy presentation, consider cooking an additional small batch of the Alfredo sauce on the side and adding it to your individual servings as needed.
For the ultimate creamy Alfredo, I always recommend grating blocks of cheese yourself. Pre-shredded cheese is often coated with anti-caking agents like potato starch or cellulose, which prevent clumping but also interfere with smooth melting and can affect the texture of your sauce. Freshly grated cheese, free of these additives, ensures a velvety, evenly melted result.
Nutrition
Nutrition Data
Macros are provided as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. This information is calculated using MyFitnessPal.com. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.