Description
A rich, creamy, and comforting pasta bake featuring seasoned ground beef, tender pasta, and a luscious Alfredo sauce, all topped with melted mozzarella and baked to golden perfection. This cheesy beef alfredo bake recipe is a family-favorite weeknight meal.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 ½ pounds lean ground beef
1 large yellow onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
16 ounces penne or ziti pasta
2 (15 ounce) jars Alfredo sauce
½ cup milk (whole or 2%)
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for garnish
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
Step 1: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
Step 2: Heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and chopped onion. Cook, breaking up the beef with a spoon, until the beef is browned and the onion is softened, about 8-10 minutes. Drain any excess fat.
Step 3: Stir in the minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Cook for another minute until fragrant.
Step 4: While the beef is cooking, bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the penne or ziti pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente (firm to the bite). Drain well and set aside.
Step 5: In a large bowl, combine the cooked ground beef mixture, drained pasta, both jars of Alfredo sauce, milk, and ½ cup of grated Parmesan cheese. Mix thoroughly until everything is well combined and coated.
Step 6: Spread half of the pasta mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese.
Step 7: Top with the remaining pasta mixture, spreading it out evenly. Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese over the top.
Step 8: Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly golden brown. If desired, you can broil for the last 1-2 minutes for extra browning, watching carefully to prevent burning.
Step 9: Remove from oven and let stand for 5-10 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley and extra Parmesan cheese, if desired. Enjoy your delicious cheesy beef alfredo bake recipe!
Notes
For best results, do not overcook the pasta as it will continue to cook in the oven. You can also assemble this dish ahead of time and refrigerate it. Add 10-15 minutes to the baking time if baking from cold.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 650 kcal
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 950mg
- Fat: 35g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 120mg