Description
Creamy cheesy beef alfredo pasta delight brings comfort straight from Italian kitchens to dinner tables. Hearty beef, rich sauce, and perfectly cooked pasta combine in a delectable meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) penne or fettuccine pasta
Protein and Vegetables:
- 1 pound (450 grams) ground beef
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Seasoning and Dairy:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for spice)
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 ½ cups heavy cream (or half & half for a lighter version)
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika (optional, for extra flavor)
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese (for extra cheesiness)
- Chopped fresh parsley (for garnish, optional)
Instructions
- Prepare a generously salted water bath in a large pot and submerge pasta, cooking until it reaches the perfect al dente texture with a slight bite.
- Carefully drain the pasta, reserving it for the upcoming flavor transformation.
- Ignite a large skillet over medium-high heat, introducing a drizzle of olive oil to create a sizzling cooking surface.
- Introduce ground beef to the hot skillet, allowing it to caramelize and brown thoroughly, releasing rich, meaty flavors for approximately 5-6 minutes.
- Eliminate excess fat from the beef, ensuring a clean, concentrated protein base.
- Incorporate finely chopped onions and minced garlic into the beef, sautéing until their aromatic essence permeates the skillet.
- Elevate the dish’s flavor profile by sprinkling a harmonious blend of salt, cracked black pepper, Italian seasoning, and a whisper of red pepper flakes.
- Reduce the skillet’s temperature to a gentle medium-low, introducing a pat of butter to create a luxurious foundation.
- Stream in velvety heavy cream, allowing it to simmer and develop a rich, silky consistency for two minutes.
- Gradually fold in Parmesan, mozzarella, garlic powder, and smoked paprika, whisking until the sauce achieves a seamless, creamy texture.
- Reunite the reserved pasta with the decadent sauce, gently tossing to ensure complete, even coating.
- Crown the dish with an additional sprinkle of mozzarella, covering briefly to allow the cheese to melt into a golden, bubbling layer.
- Finish with a delicate garnish of fresh parsley, creating a vibrant visual and flavor accent.
- Serve piping hot, accompanied by crisp garlic bread or a refreshing side salad to complete this culinary experience.
Notes
- Prevent pasta from becoming mushy by cooking it just until al dente, ensuring a perfect texture that holds up in the creamy sauce.
- Swap ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for a leaner or vegetarian version that maintains rich flavor profiles.
- Drain excess fat thoroughly from beef to reduce greasiness and create a cleaner, more appetizing sauce consistency.
- Control spice levels by adjusting red pepper flakes and choosing milder cheese options for sensitive palates or kid-friendly meals.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 690
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 42g
- Saturated Fat: 20g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 36g
- Cholesterol: 140mg