Creamy Beef Bowtie Pasta Alfredo | Recipe

We’ve all been there—you want comfort food, but you’re not about to handcraft artisan pasta from scratch or stir sauce for three hours like some Food Network overachiever. Nope. You want creamy, cheesy, meaty goodness in a bowl—preferably one you can eat while binge-watching something embarrassing on Netflix.

Enter: Creamy Beef Bowtie Pasta with Alfredo Sauce. This is basically the pasta equivalent of a cozy blanket. It’s hearty enough to keep you full, creamy enough to make you forget your problems, and easy enough to cook without breaking a sweat. Oh, and it uses bowtie pasta because regular noodles are… well, regular.

Why This Recipe is Awesome?

• It’s idiot-proof. Seriously, even if you burn toast on the regular, you can pull this off.
• One-pan(ish) wonder. Less dishes = more happiness.
• It tastes like you spent hours making it… but you didn’t. And you won’t tell anyone otherwise.
• It’s versatile. Serve it to your kids, your date, your cat (OK, maybe not your cat).
• Bowtie pasta feels fancy. It’s basically wearing a tuxedo to dinner.

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Ingredients 

• 12 oz bowtie pasta – the star of the show. Any brand will do, unless you’re extra fancy.
• 1 lb ground beef – lean if you care about calories, fatty if you care about flavor.
• 2 cups Alfredo sauce – store-bought or homemade if you’re feeling extra.
• 1 cup heavy cream – because “diet” is not in today’s vocabulary.
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese – melty happiness in a bag.
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese – optional, but it makes you feel like a real chef.
• 1 tbsp olive oil – for cooking the beef without welding it to the pan.
• 1 tsp garlic powder – or more if you’re on team extra garlic forever.
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning – for that “I know what I’m doing” flavor.
• Salt & black pepper – to taste, because you’re the boss here.
• Fresh parsley – optional garnish if you want Instagram-worthy pics.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Cook the pasta. Bring a big pot of salted water to a boil. Add the bowtie pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente (aka not mushy). Drain and set aside.
2. Brown the beef. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Toss in your ground beef, season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning. Stir and cook until it’s no longer pink. Drain excess grease (unless you live dangerously).
3. Add the creamy stuff. Lower the heat and pour in Alfredo sauce and heavy cream. Stir until everything looks like it belongs together.
4. Cheese it up. Add mozzarella and Parmesan. Stir until the cheese melts into the sauce and everything turns into cheesy magic.
5. Combine forces. Toss in the cooked bowtie pasta and stir gently until each little “tuxedo” is coated in creamy sauce.
6. Taste test. Adjust seasoning if needed. Try not to eat half the pan while doing this.
7. Serve. Plate it up, sprinkle with parsley if you’re feeling classy, and dig in.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Overcooking the pasta. Nobody likes pasta that feels like baby food.
• Skipping the seasoning. Without salt, pepper, and herbs, this will taste like sadness.
• Using skim milk instead of cream. That’s not Alfredo sauce—that’s betrayal.
• Forgetting to drain the beef. Unless you enjoy greasy pasta soup.
• Melting cheese over high heat. That’s how you get weird, clumpy cheese blobs instead of silky sauce.

Alternatives & Substitutions

• Pasta swap: Penne, rigatoni, or rotini will also work. Macaroni if you want to make “fancy” mac and cheese.
• Protein swap: Ground turkey or chicken if you’re pretending to be healthy. Italian sausage for extra flavor.
• Sauce swap: Want to go rogue? Try a mix of Alfredo and marinara for a creamy tomato twist.
• Cheese swap: Cheddar, provolone, or gouda can join the party. Just don’t tell the Italians.
• Veggie boost: Throw in spinach, mushrooms, or broccoli if you feel guilty about the lack of greens.

FAQs

Q: Can I make this ahead of time?

A: Sure, but fresh is always better. If you do make it ahead, store in the fridge and reheat gently so the sauce doesn’t break.

Q: Can I use margarine instead of butter in the Alfredo sauce?

A: Technically yes, but why would you hurt your soul like that?

Q: Is this freezer-friendly?

A: Not really. The cream-based sauce might separate when thawed, which is just… sad.

Q: Can I make it vegetarian?

A: Yep! Skip the beef and add more veggies or meat substitutes.

Q: How spicy is this?

A: Not spicy at all—unless you add chili flakes, which I fully support.

Q: How do I make it “extra fancy”?

A: Use homemade Alfredo, fresh herbs, and serve with garlic bread that didn’t come from the freezer section.

Related Recipe:

• Protein-Packed Steak & Shrimp Stir-Fry Recipe
• Easy 30-Minute Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas Recipe
• Savory Greek Turkey Meatballs with Tzatziki

Final Thoughts

And there you have it—Creamy Beef Bowtie Pasta with Alfredo Sauce that’s rich, satisfying, and requires minimal adulting skills. Whether you’re cooking for friends, family, or just yourself (no judgment), this dish is the ultimate comfort food fix.