This Creamy Ground Beef Alfredo Pasta is a hearty, comfort-food twist on a classic Italian favorite. By adding savory ground beef to a rich, homemade Alfredo sauce, you transform a simple pasta dish into a filling, protein-packed meal that the whole family will love.
With tender pasta shells that cup the velvety garlic-parmesan sauce and juicy beef crumbles in every bite, this dinner is ready to serve in just 30 minutes.
Recipe Details
- Flavor Profile: A decadent blend of rich cream and savory beef, seasoned with aromatic garlic and salty parmesan cheese.
- Texture: The sauce is thick and smooth thanks to the cream cheese, coating the soft pasta shells and tender meat perfectly.
- Time: 10 minutes prep, 20 minutes cook time.
- Difficulty: Easy. It involves boiling pasta and making a simple one-pan sauce.
What You’ll Need
To make this recipe, you will need a large pot for boiling the pasta and a large skillet to cook the beef and build the sauce. A wooden spoon is helpful for breaking up the meat. The ingredients are simple but indulgent, relying on heavy cream, cream cheese, and lean ground beef to create a luxurious texture.
Ingredient Notes
- Small Shell Pasta – You need 10 ounces (about 3/4 of a box). The shell shape is ideal because it acts like a little scoop, holding the creamy sauce and beef bits inside.
- Lean Ground Beef – Using 90/10 lean beef ensures the dish is meaty and savory without being overly greasy.
- Heavy Cream – This forms the luxurious base of the Alfredo sauce.
- Cream Cheese – The secret ingredient! It adds a tangy richness and helps thicken the sauce faster than reduction alone.
- Parmesan Cheese – Grated or shredded parmesan provides that signature nutty, salty Alfredo flavor.
- Garlic Powder – Used to season the sauce evenly without the risk of burning fresh garlic.
- Pasta Water – Reserved from the boiling pot, this starchy water is essential for thinning the sauce to the perfect consistency.
Add-ins and Substitutions
- Vegetables – Stir in fresh spinach at the end to wilt, or add steamed broccoli florets for a complete meal.
- Pasta – If you don’t have shells, rotini or penne work well to hold the thick sauce.
- Spice – A pinch of red pepper flakes adds a nice background heat to cut through the richness.
How to Make Creamy Ground Beef Alfredo Pasta
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the small shell pasta and cook until tender but firm, according to the package instructions (about 8–10 minutes).
- Reserve Water: Before draining, carefully reserve ½ cup of the starchy pasta water. Drain the pasta and set it aside.
- Brown the Beef: Heat 2 Tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the lean ground beef and cook, breaking it into small crumbles with a wooden spoon. Cook until browned and fully cooked (about 5–7 minutes). Drain excess grease if necessary.
- Start the Sauce: Reduce the heat to low. Add the heavy cream and cream cheese to the skillet with the beef. Stir continuously until the cream cheese melts and the mixture becomes smooth.
- Season: Add the salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Continue stirring until the cheese is fully melted and incorporated into the sauce.
- Combine: Add the cooked pasta shells and the grated Parmesan cheese to the skillet. Toss everything together until the pasta is well-coated in the creamy sauce.
- Adjust Consistency: If the sauce is too thick, add the reserved pasta water, a little at a time, until you reach your desired consistency.
- Serve: Garnish with fresh chopped parsley (optional) and extra Parmesan cheese if desired. Serve warm.
Pro Tip: Don’t skip reserving the pasta water! The starch in that water helps emulsify the sauce, making it silky and smooth while thinning it out without diluting the flavor like plain water would.
Recipe Tips
- Low Heat: When adding the dairy (cream and cream cheese), keep the heat on low. Boiling the sauce vigorously can cause the dairy to separate or curdle.
- Cream Cheese: Cut the cream cheese into smaller cubes before adding it to the pan to help it melt faster and more evenly.
- Stir Constantly: Continuous stirring while melting the cheeses ensures a velvety sauce without lumps.
FAQs
- Can I use milk instead? You can, but the sauce will be much thinner. You may need to use more cream cheese or a little flour to thicken it up.
- How do I reheat this? Creamy pasta can dry out in the fridge. Reheat gently on the stove with a splash of milk or water to loosen the sauce back up.
- Can I use ground turkey? Yes, ground turkey is a great substitute if you want a lighter protein option.
Serving Suggestions
- Green Salad: A crisp salad with a vinaigrette dressing cuts through the richness of the creamy pasta.
- Bread: Serve with garlic bread or breadsticks to sop up any extra sauce.
- Vegetables: Roasted asparagus or green beans make excellent side dishes.
Make This Recipe in Advance
- Prep: You can cook the ground beef ahead of time and store it in the fridge.
- Best Fresh: Alfredo sauce is best served immediately. If you need to make it ahead, be prepared to add liquid when reheating.
Creamy Ground Beef Alfredo Pasta
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4-6 Servings 1x
Description
This Creamy Ground Beef Alfredo Pasta is a hearty, comfort-food twist on a classic Italian favorite. By adding savory ground beef to a rich, homemade Alfredo sauce, you transform a simple pasta dish into a filling, protein-packed meal that the whole family will love. With tender pasta shells that cup the velvety garlic-Parmesan sauce and juicy beef crumbles in every bite, this dinner is ready to serve in just 30 minutes.
Ingredients
The Beef & Pasta
- 10 ounces small shell pasta (approx. 3/4 of a box)
- 1 pound lean ground beef (90/10 recommended)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 cup starchy pasta water (reserved from boiling pot)
The Creamy Alfredo Sauce
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 1/2 cup cream cheese, cut into cubes
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated or shredded
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- Fresh parsley, chopped (optional garnish)
Instructions
Cook Pasta
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the shell pasta according to package directions until al dente (tender but firm).
Crucial Step
Before draining, scoop out and reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water. Drain the rest and set pasta aside.
Brown Beef
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef. Cook, breaking it into small crumbles, until browned and no longer pink (approx. 5–7 minutes). Drain excess grease if necessary.
Start the Sauce
Reduce the skillet heat to low. Add the heavy cream and cubed cream cheese to the beef. Stir: Stir continuously until the cream cheese melts completely and the sauce looks smooth.
Season
Stir in the salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
Combine
Add the cooked pasta shells and the Parmesan cheese to the skillet. Toss well until the cheese melts and the pasta is evenly coated.
Adjust Consistency
Pour in the reserved pasta water, a splash at a time, stirring constantly. Why? This thins the sauce to a silky consistency without diluting the flavor. Stop adding water when it reaches your desired thickness.
Serve
Garnish with fresh parsley and serve warm.
Notes
Heat Control: Keep the heat on low when adding the cream and cheese. If you boil the sauce vigorously, the dairy may separate or curdle.
Why Shells? Shell pasta acts like a scoop, catching the beef crumbles and creamy sauce inside the hollows. Rotini or Penne are good substitutes.
The Secret Ingredient: Cream cheese isn’t traditional in classic Alfredo, but it adds a tangy richness and helps thicken the sauce faster and more reliably than reduction alone.
Reheating: Creamy pasta tends to dry out in the fridge. To reheat, add a splash of milk or water to the pan or bowl to loosen the sauce up again.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner / Pasta
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American Comfort
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Bowl
- Calories: 680
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 750mg
- Fat: 42g
- Saturated Fat: 22g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 135mg
Keywords: ground beef alfredo, creamy beef pasta, hamburger helper homemade, shell pasta recipes, 30 minute dinner, kid friendly pasta, cream cheese alfredo
