Description
Creamy Cajun bowtie pasta with ground beef brings weeknight comfort to your table in 30 minutes. Tender bowtie pasta, savory Cajun-spiced beef, and a rich garlic cream sauce melt together with cheddar and Parmesan for an easy family dinner. Keywords: cheesy bowtie pasta, Cajun ground beef pasta, garlic cream pasta, quick weeknight meal, one-pan pasta.
Ingredients
12 oz bowtie pasta
1 lb ground beef (80 to 90 percent lean)
1 tbsp Cajun seasoning (more to taste)
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/4 cups heavy cream
1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
2 tbsp unsalted butter
1/2 tsp fine sea salt (to taste)
1/4 tsp black pepper (to taste)
2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook bowtie pasta until al dente; reserve 1 cup pasta water, then drain.
2. Brown ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
3. Sprinkle Cajun seasoning over the beef and cook 30 seconds, stirring, to bloom the spices.
4. Reduce heat to medium. Add butter and minced garlic; saute 30 to 60 seconds until fragrant.
5. Pour in heavy cream, scraping up any browned bits. Simmer gently 2 to 3 minutes to thicken slightly.
6. Stir in cheddar and Parmesan until smooth and creamy. Season with salt and black pepper.
7. Add cooked pasta to the skillet and toss. Loosen with splashes of reserved pasta water until the sauce clings silkily.
8. Remove from heat, sprinkle with parsley, and serve hot.
Notes
Use pasta water to control sauce thickness; a few tablespoons make the sauce glossy and perfectly clingy.
Adjust the Cajun heat: start with 1 tablespoon, then add more at the end to taste.
For extra richness and a little tang, stir in 2 tablespoons cream cheese or a squeeze of lemon right before serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 780 mg
- Fat: 38 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 48 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 125 mg