A quick fix for a busy day. Browned ground beef is mixed with Alfredo sauce and penne pasta for a delicious dinner.
8 ounces uncooked penne pasta
1 pound lean ground beef
3 green onions, sliced
1 1/2 cup Alfredo sauce
3 Italian plum tomatoes, quartered, sliced
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
salt and pepper, to taste
Cook the pasta in salted, boiling water until al dente. Drain well.
Meanwhile, heat a deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef. Cook, stirring frequently, until no longer pink. Drain well.
Add the green onion and alfredo sauce to the skillet and reduce the heat to medium. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is heated through, about 5 minutes.
Add the cooked pasta, tomatoes, and basil to the skillet. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper as needed. Serve the beef alfredo hot.
Cook the pasta just before it reaches al dente as it will continue to cook when added to the sauce.
Add a handful of baby spinach leaves or arugula to the skillet for extra nutrients.
Stir in a handful of shredded mozzarella or fontina cheese for a gooey, cheesy twist to the dish.
Roast the tomatoes before adding them to the dish for deeper flavor.
Mix in cooked bacon or pancetta for a salty, savory addition.
You can use any pasta shape you prefer or have on hand, but keep in mind that different shapes may have different cooking times. You can use rotini, elbow macaroni, or even bow ties in place of penne. Or, use spaghetti or fettuccine if a longer pasta is preferred.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat gently in the microwave or on the stovetop with a splash of water or cream if it seems dry.
While possible, freezing may affect the texture of the dish as the Alfredo sauce can separate when thawed.
Yes, ground turkey, chicken, or even crumbled sausage can be used as alternatives to ground beef. Or, plant-based meat crumbles will also work.
Pumpkins aren't just for pies or Halloween decorations. These large, orange gourds - while naturally sweet - also work well in savory dishes. They pair well with poultry and pork (and especially bacon) and their creamy-when-cooked texture blends easily into soups.
Not to be confused with evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk is very sweet (and very sticky) and used primarily in desserts.
It may look like a sad little package shoved in the back of your freezer, but frozen spinach actually has a lot of culinary uses (and some may surprise you).
reviews & comments
November 15, 2018
this was very good
November 11, 2013
Very good!! I used a four-cheese alfredo sauce and this was delicious.
August 4, 2013
I use this as a "emergency dinner" recipe quite often. It's so simple to just brown the ground beef and toss it with the other ingredients. By the time the pasta is cooked it's all ready. I've also put the burger and alfredo mixture into the crock pot and let it slow cook and then just serve it over pasta. You can add a splash of sherry to dress it up, or add parmesan cheese.
November 15, 2011
My husband loved this! I used the Poblano Alfredo by Bertolli. (By the way 1 1/2 cups is a 15 ounce jar of sauce) I used a can of drained diced tomatoes rather than freah. And did increase my fresh basil. I also just chopped some regular onions and added them I did not have any green onions on hand.
September 1, 2007
I made this with bowtie pasta instead, used 1 shallot instead of the onions, used canned diced tomatoes instead of the fresh ones, and dried basil instead of the fresh and it still came out delicious. Enjoy!