Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450g) ground beef (lean or extra lean)
- 12 oz (340g) fettuccine pasta (or your preferred pasta type)
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1 ½ cups heavy cream
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning (optional)
Optional Garnishes:
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- Additional Parmesan cheese
Instructions
1: Boil the Pasta
- Fill a large pot with water, add a generous pinch of salt, and bring it to a rolling boil.
- Add the fettuccine pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente (firm to the bite).
- Reserve ½ cup of the pasta cooking water before draining the pasta. This starchy water can help adjust the sauce’s consistency later.
2: Sauté the Aromatics
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the butter. Once the butter has melted, toss in the minced garlic and chopped onion.
- Cook the garlic and onion for 2–3 minutes, stirring frequently, until they’re soft and fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic!
3: Brown the Ground Beef
- Push the garlic and onion to the side of the skillet. Add the ground beef to the center.
- Cook the beef until it’s browned and crumbled, breaking it up with a spatula as it cooks.
- Season the beef with a pinch of salt and black pepper.
- Once the beef is fully cooked, drain any excess fat from the skillet to keep the dish from becoming greasy.
4: Make the Alfredo Sauce
- With the beef still in the skillet, reduce the heat to low. Slowly pour in the heavy cream, stirring to combine it with the beef and aromatics.
- Gradually add the grated Parmesan cheese, stirring continuously to melt it into the cream. The sauce will begin to thicken as the cheese melts.
- Add the Italian seasoning (if using), and adjust the seasoning with more salt and black pepper to taste.
- Simmer the sauce gently for 3–4 minutes, but do not let it boil—this helps maintain a silky, smooth consistency.
5: Combine Pasta and Sauce
- Add the drained fettuccine pasta to the skillet with the sauce and toss everything together until the pasta is fully coated.
- If the sauce feels too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water, a little at a time, until the desired consistency is reached.
6: Garnish and Serve
- Transfer the Ground Beef Alfredo to serving plates or a large serving dish.
- Sprinkle with freshly chopped parsley and extra Parmesan cheese for garnish.
- Serve immediately while hot and creamy.
Notes
- If you’re preparing this dish ahead of time, keep the sauce and pasta separate until just before serving to avoid soggy pasta.
- For extra flavor, add a pinch of red pepper flakes for a subtle kick!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate (approximately 1 ½ cups)
- Calories: 620
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 35g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 95mg