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