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an ordinary shallow bowl of small cup-shaped orecchiette and browned ground-beef crumbles in a pale ivory Parmesan cream sauce speckled with black pepper, with no broccoli, tomato, cheese crust or garnish
Rachel Kim

Creamy Ground Beef Alfredo Pasta

Orecchiette holds browned beef in its little cups, with butter, cream and Parmesan doing the work of an Alfredo sauce after the pasta cooks in broth. This is a stovetop finish with no flour, broccoli or baked cheese crust. Let the broth reduce before adding cream, but don't boil the pan dry and expect the dairy to loosen scorched pasta. Freshly grated Parmesan melts more readily than coarse shreds, especially once the burner is off. The final sauce should leave a thin trail when you drag a spoon through it, then flow back slowly rather than standing in a mound around the pasta.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 4
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb 90% lean ground beef
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 8 oz dry orecchiette
  • 3 cups low-sodium beef broth
  • 1/4 tsp fine salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 cup water reserved as needed
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 2 oz Parmesan very finely grated

Method
 

  1. Brown beef in a deep 12-inch saute pan over medium-high heat for 7 to 8 minutes, breaking it into small crumbles and cooking to 160°F. Spoon off excess fat and stir in garlic for 30 seconds.
  2. Add orecchiette, broth, salt and pepper and bring to a simmer. Cook uncovered over medium-low heat for 13 to 16 minutes, stirring often to separate nested pieces, until tender; add reserved water if needed.
  3. Simmer briefly if more than a shallow coating of broth remains. Stir in butter and cream and heat gently for 1 minute without a hard boil.
  4. Remove the pan from the burner and wait 1 minute. Fold in Parmesan a small handful at a time until smooth, adding a little remaining reserve water if the coating becomes too tight.
  5. Serve immediately in warm bowls while the cream sauce remains fluid.