Alfredo Sauce With Meatballs
This extra creamy Alfredo Sauce with Meatballs offers comfort food at its best. Juicy beef meatballs nestled in a classic creamy and cheesy Alfredo sauce. Served with your favorite pasta, it makes an indulgent, from-scratch dinner in under 30 minutes. Perfect as a quick and easy weeknight meal or for special occasions including birthdays and Mother’s Day.
My family loves hamburger pasta dishes with a creamy sauce and these bite-sized beef meatballs with Alfredo sauce are a great example of that. Just like my hamburger Alfredo sauce or one-pot beef Alfredo pasta, this recipe combines savory ground beef with a creamy and cheesy sauce.
Enjoy this Swedish meatball-inspired sauce with your favorite type of pasta, rice, mashed potatoes, or in a handy meatball sub. My family enjoys the rich sauce with homemade pappardelle or classic fettuccine pasta on special occasions including kids’ birthdays and Mother’s Day.
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Alfredo Sauce With Meatballs
Ingredients
Beef Meatballs
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup bread crumbs
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp Italian herbs
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Alfredo Sauce
- 2 tbsp butter salted or unsalted
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 3/4 cup parmesan cheese grated
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley finely chopped
Instructions
- Combine the ground beef, egg, bread crumbs, garlic, Italian herbs, salt, and pepper in a bowl by hand or with a spoon. Form 18 bite-sized meatballs.1 lb ground beef, 1 egg, 1/4 cup bread crumbs, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp ground black pepper, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp Italian herbs
- Heat a large pan over medium heat and add the olive oil. Add the meatballs and cook them for 3 minutes on each side or until the internal temperature reaches The safe internal temperature for beef meatballs is 160°F (71°C). Set aside.2 tbsp olive oil
- Add the butter and minced garlic to the same pan. Cook for 30 minutes until melted and the garlic is fragrant.2 tbsp butter, 2 garlic cloves
- Reduce the heat to medium-low and pour in the heavy cream, stirring continuously. Gradually add 3/4 cup of grated parmesan cheese, stirring constantly until melted and sauce thickens, about 3-4 minutes. Add the reserved pasta sauce 1/4 cup at a time to loosen up the sauce. Season to taste with salt and black pepper.1 cup heavy cream, 3/4 cup parmesan cheese
- Add cooked meatballs back to the skillet with the cream sauce, tossing to coat evenly. Serve with your favorite cooked pasta such as fettuccine. Garnish with chopped parsley and some extra grated parmesan cheese. Serve immediately and enjoy!1/4 cup fresh parsley
Notes
Nutrition
Ingredients and substitutions
- Beef – I use ground beef with a 15% fat percentage for this recipe for juicy meatballs but leaner meat would work too. Italian lamb meatballs, turkey, or chicken meatballs make delicious alternatives as well.
- Cream – Heavy cream gives the Alfredo sauce its rich and creamy texture but you can use lighter options including half and half as well.
- Cheese – Grated parmesan gives the sauce a rich, cheesy flavor. Use mozzarella cheese for lighter flavor or pecorino for a sharper flavor.
- Bread crumbs – White or whole grain bread crumbs or even panko can be used to make the beef meatballs.
- Seasonings – A simple Italian herb blend adds rich flavor to the meatballs. You can also use my Mediterranean seasoning or Tuscan herb blend.
- Parsley – Fresh or dried parsley can be used to garnish the sauce and add some color to the dish.
Step-by-Step: Alfredo Meatball Sauce
1. Combine the meatball ingredients including the ground beef, bread crumbs, egg, and seasonings.
2. Pan-fry the meatballs in a pan in some olive oil over medium-high heat until fully cooked.
3. Add the butter and minced garlic to the same pan. Cook until the garlic is fragrant.
4. Pour in the cream and reduce the heat to a simmer. Stir in the grated parmesan cheese and let it simmer gently until thickened. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
5. Return the meatballs to the sauce and serve with your favorite type of pasta or rice.
My top 5 meatball Alfredo tips
- Rich base: You can use the leftover fat from frying the meatballs for a richer sauce base but this may result in small meat pieces in your sauce. Alternatively, discard the fat and start with 1 tbsp of fresh olive oil for a cleaner sauce.
- Gentle simmer: Avoid overcooking the creamy sauce, as this can cause it to curdle and develop a grainy texture.
- Oven baking: Cook the beef meatballs in the oven or an air-fryer as an alternative to pan-frying.
- Pasta water: Reserve some of the pasta cooking water. This can be used to loosen the sauce to your desired consistency.
- Add veggies: For a more nutritious and complete meal, incorporate cooked vegetables such as wilted spinach, cooked broccoli, green beans, corn, or peas into the white sauce with the meatballs.
