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Creamy Spaghetti Alfredo With Ground Beef and Mozzarella - Comfort Food Made Easy

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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • Spaghetti (12 ounces)
  • Ground beef (1 pound, 85–90% lean)
  • Unsalted butter (4 tablespoons)
  • Garlic (3–4 cloves, minced)
  • Heavy cream (1 1/2 cups)
  • Whole milk or half-and-half (1/2 cup, optional for thinning)
  • Parmesan cheese, freshly grated (1 cup)
  • Mozzarella cheese, shredded (1 1/2 cups)
  • Olive oil (1 tablespoon)
  • Salt and black pepper
  • Italian seasoning or dried oregano (1 teaspoon)
  • Red pepper flakes (optional, a pinch)
  • Fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)

Method
 

  1. Boil the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the spaghetti until just al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain.
  2. Brown the beef: In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high. Add ground beef, season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Cook, breaking it up, until browned and no longer pink. Drain excess fat if needed and set aside in a bowl.
  3. Start the alfredo base: In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium. Add butter and minced garlic. Cook 30–60 seconds until fragrant, not browned.
  4. Add cream: Pour in heavy cream. Stir and let it gently simmer for 2–3 minutes to thicken slightly. If it gets too thick, splash in a little milk or reserved pasta water.
  5. Cheese it up: Reduce heat to low. Stir in Parmesan until melted and smooth. Taste and season with salt, pepper, and a pinch of red pepper flakes if you like heat.
  6. Combine: Add the cooked spaghetti and ground beef to the skillet. Toss well so the sauce coats everything. Add a splash of pasta water for silky texture if needed.
  7. Add mozzarella: Sprinkle mozzarella over the top. Cover the skillet for 2–3 minutes until melted. For a bubbly top, transfer to an oven-safe dish and broil for 1–2 minutes, watching closely.
  8. Finish and serve: Garnish with chopped parsley. Serve hot with extra Parmesan on the side.