This Ground Beef Pasta with Alfredo sauce is a game-changing, one-pot recipe for busy weeknight dinners! This easy recipe requires no pre-boiling of pasta, saving you time and dishes. Juicy, well-seasoned meat is paired with a creamy Parmesan sauce and perfectly cooked in a single pot. Quick, delicious, and a family favorite!
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What Type of Pasta to Use
Fettuccine and linguine are the most common choices for Alfredo sauce. The broad surface of the pasta allows the creamy Alfredo sauce to coat the pasta effectively, providing a delightful combination of flavors and textures.
You can use whatever you like. Here are more options:
- Spaghetti: A great choice if you prefer thinner pasta.
- Penne: A tubular pasta that can trap the creamy sauce inside, creating a nice contrast between the sauce and the pasta.
- Rigatoni: Another tubular pasta, rigatoni's ridges help hold the sauce, making it a hearty choice for Alfredo.
- Farfalle (Bowtie pasta): The unique bowtie shape adds a fun twist to the dish and is great for catching the sauce.
What Type of Cheese to Use
Alfredo sauce is made using Parmesan cheese. Parmesan cheese adds a rich, salty, and nutty flavor to the sauce, which complements the creamy base beautifully. You should also use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for the best flavor and texture, as opposed to pre-shredded bagged cheese.
You can use whatever type of cheese you prefer in this recipe.
Do You Break the Pasta in Half
People often break their pasta in half so that it will fit in the pot they are using to cook the pasta. I find I don’t need to do this and it’s frowned upon. Some even consider it bad luck. The pasta is meant to be eaten by twirling it around your fork. It’s hard to do that if you have smaller pieces.
It won’t harm the pasta if you do! So if you must, feel free!
No Boil Pasta Method
I love to use a no-boil pasta method in this recipe! Feel free to boil your pasta first if that's your wish.
The method I use in this recipe results in only needing one pot to accomplish it all. You will combine the pasta sauce ingredients in your pan or pot and then add in your pasta and allow your pasta and sauce to simmer until the pasta is tender.
This method allows to sauce to penetrate the pasta as it cooks and also results in immense flavor.
How to Make Ground Beef Pasta
Detailed measurements and full instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Place a large skillet or Dutch oven on the stove at medium-high heat.
- Add ground beef. Break down the ground beef and season the ground beef with the spices.
- Add in onions, green peppers, and minced garlic. Stir and cook.
- Add in diced tomatoes and stir.
- Remove the ground beef and vegetables from the pan and set aside.
- Add broth and heavy cream to the pot.
- Once the mixture begins to boil and bubble add in the pasta.
- Simmer.
- Add the ground beef mixture to the pasta and sauce. Fold to combine the ingredients.
What Type of Pan or Pot to Use
To make this a convenient one-pot meal, you'll want to use a large, deep skillet, a wide saucepan, Dutch oven, or wide-bottomed pot. This type of cookware allows you to brown the ground beef, cook the pasta, and prepare the Alfredo sauce all in a single pot.
I used this pan from Amazon and this Dutch oven would work, too.
If you want to use separate pots to cook the pasta and beef, feel free to do so.
How to Substitute Ground Beef
You can use ground turkey, ground chicken, ground sausage (Italian sausage too), sausage rounds, bacon, seafood, or omit the meat completely.
Additional Toppings, Substitutes, and Add-in Ideas
- Chicken
- Shrimp or any seafood
- Bacon
- Grated Parmesan or Pecorino cheese: A classic topping that adds a salty, savory kick.
- Fresh basil or parsley: Chopped herbs bring freshness and a burst of color.
- Red pepper flakes: For a touch of heat and extra flavor.
- Mushrooms: Sliced and sautéed mushrooms pair wonderfully.
- Tomatoes: Diced tomatoes or cherry tomatoes can add freshness and acidity.
- Spinach or kale: A great way to add veggies and nutrients.
- Olives: Sliced black or green olives can introduce a briny element.
- Sun-dried tomatoes: I love these for an intense, concentrated flavor.
- Artichoke hearts: Canned or marinated artichoke hearts offer a unique tangy taste.
- Capers: These can add a hint of saltiness.
How to Store
Leftovers can be stored tightly covered and sealed in the fridge for 3-4 days.
How to Reheat
Reheating Alfredo sauce can be a bit tricky because it has a tendency to break or become clumpy if it's not reheated properly. Alfredo sauce thickens as it cools, so you may need to add a little more cream or milk to adjust the consistency when reheating.
Heat the leftovers gently while stirring, and gradually add a small amount of cream to bring it back to the desired consistency. Continue to stir until it's smooth.
The sauce will also penetrate heavily into the pasta and ground beef. This can be a really good thing because that means the leftovers are bursting with flavor. If you want a saucy dish you will have to use the tip noted above.
The best way to reheat is on the stove at medium-high heat. Constantly stir until warm.
You can use the microwave but with caution. Use short intervals like 15 to 30 seconds at a time. Overheating will cause the dish to dry out.
Freezer Tips
You can freeze the dish for up to a couple of months. Defrost in the fridge overnight and follow the steps above to reheat.
Pair With These Recipes
Air Fryer Garlic Bread
Air Fryer Green Beans
Air Fryer Roasted Garlic
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Garlic
More Pasta Recipes
Lemon Chicken Pasta with Garlic and Parmesan
Slow Cooker Crockpot Mac and Cheese with Uncooked Pasta
Cheesy Taco Pasta
Seafood Stuffed Shells
Southern Chicken Spaghetti
Spaghetti with Sausage
Scallops and Pasta
Check out our collection of 25 Recipes With Ground Beef.
Ground Beef Pasta with Alfredo
Want to save this recipe for later?
I'll email it to you, so you can come back to it later! You will also get our free digital cookbook with 30-Minute One-Pot Recipes and weekly recipes and tips.
Equipment
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
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.
Tammy says
I made this last night after a debacle happened with my freezer and I needed a ground beef recipe fast! This was sooo delicious, omg!! I had no idea it was this easy to make my own pasta sauce, such flavor!! My 8 year old and picky 3 year old twins loved every bite!! It’s so hard getting a meal all 3 of them like, thank you sooo much!!
Tammy says
I made this last night after a debacle happened with my freezer and I needed a ground beef recipe fast! This was sooo delicious, omg!! I had no idea it was this easy to make my own pasta sauce, such flavor!! My 8 year old and picky 3 year old twins loved every bite!! It’s so hard getting a meal all 3 of them like, thank you sooo much!!
staysnatched says
You're welcome. I'm glad you guys enjoyed it!
Monique says
Made this tonight with ground turkey. My word. This turned out soooooo good. The instructions were easy to follow and it didn’t take long to make at all!
staysnatched says
So glad to hear it!
Felicia says
This was very easy to make! I really wanted pasta but didn’t want to dirty up a bunch of dishes. This recipe was perfect! I followed the steps, tasted and adjusted as needed. The proportions of pasta to sauce and meat are spot on. I have some leftover that’ll be lunch for tomorrow. And did I mention how easy this was to make!
Thanks for a great recipe!
staysnatched says
Glad it worked out!
Joanna says
Finally made this tonight - I've had it bookmarked since it was posted. So delicious!! My husband and I love pasta & alfredo, but regular alfredo recipes upset my husband's stomach because they are so fatty & rich. This was perfectly creamy & delicious without being too heavy and making him not feel well. And I loved the Cajun spice in there, definitely not traditional, but absolutely delicious! And the one-pot method worked so well. This recipe is going into our regular rotation for sure.
staysnatched says
I’m glad it will be in the rotation
Sherene says
Easy, tasty, toddler-approved weeknight dinner meal!
staysnatched says
Glad to hear it's toddler approved!
John says
This is an awesome recipe. Next time I will use Italian tomatoes because we use Italian seasoning in it.
I cheated with the Alfredo sauce. Instead of making the sauce from scratch, I used RAGU Alfredo sauce. It's a very tasty sauce. No disappointment there. This is one of the tastiest recipe, and there is enough left over for another meal.
It is a 5 star recipe. I usually do not like "All in one pot" recipes,
but this one got my attention.
John says
I have to confess, I boiled the pasta because I used a ready made Parmesan sauce. It was outstanding.
staysnatched says
Nice!
Regina says
I finally made this recipe after saving it for months. My husband is a picky eater and complains about the little chunks of tomatoes in sauces. He loved this meal about as much as I did and said I need to make it more often. Brandi did it again with another great recipe. The Cajun seasoning was perfect and loved the one pot cooking.
staysnatched says
Yay! So glad you enjoyed it.
Regina says
Such a tasty and easy dish!!! Brandi this is sooooo good!!!!!
staysnatched says
I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
Traci says
Thank you for the ground beef and pasta with Alfredo recipe. Absolutely delicious! Family approved. Always looking for recipes the kids will love just as much as we do! Also, having the measurements of each ingredient in the instruction section saves me from scrolling and I love it!
staysnatched says
I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
Dan says
Brandi, this is a "knock it out of the park" home run of a simple and delicious recipe!! No leftovers tonight!! This one will help this hubbie "stay snatched!" Thanks Brandi for all your wonderful, creative and "down home" recipes!!!!!!!
staysnatched says
I'm so glad to hear it!
Kristine says
I’ve made this a few times and everyone loves it! I add mushrooms for added veggies and cook the pasta separately. Yum!
staysnatched says
That sounds so good!