Description
Hearty beef and bowtie pasta with alfredo sauce brings comfort and elegance to weeknight dinners. Creamy sauce and perfectly seasoned beef create a delightful meal you’ll savor from first bite to last.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound (454 grams) ground beef (80/20 for best flavor)
- 12 ounces (340 grams) bowtie (farfalle) pasta
- 2 cups Alfredo sauce (store-bought or homemade)
Dairy and Cream:
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Seasonings and Spices:
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a generously salted pot of water to a rolling boil and cook bowtie pasta until perfectly tender, typically 8-10 minutes. Carefully set aside a half cup of starchy cooking liquid before draining the pasta.
- Heat a spacious skillet over medium-high temperature and thoroughly brown the ground beef, incorporating salt, pepper, and onion powder. Eliminate any excess grease from the pan.
- Introduce finely chopped garlic and Italian seasoning into the browned meat, sautéing until an aromatic fragrance emerges, approximately 1-2 minutes.
- Lower the skillet’s heat and gently incorporate Alfredo sauce, rich heavy cream, and grated Parmesan cheese. Whisk continuously until the mixture transforms into a velvety, uniform sauce.
- Fold the drained pasta into the creamy beef mixture, ensuring each bowtie is luxuriously coated with the silky sauce. If the consistency seems thick, gradually add reserved pasta water to achieve desired smoothness.
- Finish the dish by scattering freshly chopped parsley across the top and sprinkling red pepper flakes for an optional subtle kick of heat. Serve immediately while piping hot for maximum flavor enjoyment.
Notes
- Swap ground beef with lean turkey or plant-based crumbles for a healthier, lower-fat alternative that keeps the protein content high.
- Use gluten-free bowtie pasta to make this dish completely gluten-free without compromising texture or taste.
- Enhance the sauce’s richness by adding a splash of white wine or a pinch of nutmeg for deeper, more complex flavor profiles.
- Control sauce consistency by gradually adding reserved pasta water if the mixture becomes too thick, ensuring a silky, perfectly coated pasta dish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 564
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 785 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 97 mg