Description
Cajun Cream Cheese Alfredo Bowties with Spiced Ground Beef is a flavorful and creamy pasta dish combining tender bowtie pasta with a rich Cajun-spiced cream cheese Alfredo sauce and savory seasoned ground beef. This recipe offers a delightful balance of spicy, cheesy, and hearty flavors, perfect for a comforting dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 1 pound bowtie pasta
Ground Beef Mixture
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Sauce
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 small onion, chopped
Garnish
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional)
- Extra Parmesan cheese (optional)
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the bowtie pasta until al dente, usually about 10-12 minutes. Drain and set aside to be combined later.
- Brown Ground Beef: In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned and cooked through, breaking it apart as it cooks. Season the beef with Cajun seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Remove the beef from the skillet and set aside.
- Sauté Aromatics: In the same skillet, add butter and then sauté the chopped onion and minced garlic over medium heat until fragrant and softened, about 3-4 minutes.
- Make Alfredo Sauce: Add the cream cheese to the skillet with the onions and garlic and stir until the cream cheese melts completely. Pour in the heavy cream gradually, stirring continuously until the sauce thickens slightly, creating a smooth creamy texture.
- Add Cheese and Seasoning: Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese into the sauce. Taste and adjust the seasoning by adding more Cajun seasoning, salt, or pepper if desired for extra flavor.
- Combine Beef and Sauce: Return the cooked ground beef to the skillet and stir it well to coat evenly with the creamy Alfredo sauce.
- Mix Pasta and Sauce: Add the drained bowtie pasta to the skillet and gently fold everything together until the pasta is thoroughly coated with the sauce and beef mixture. Heat through for 2-3 minutes to meld flavors.
- Serve: Serve the Cajun Cream Cheese Alfredo Bowties hot, garnished with chopped fresh parsley and additional Parmesan cheese if using for added flavor and presentation.
Notes
- Cook pasta until al dente to maintain a firm texture when mixed with the sauce.
- Adjust Cajun seasoning to taste depending on your preferred spice level.
- You can substitute heavy cream with half-and-half for a slightly lighter sauce, but it may be less thick.
- Fresh parsley adds a nice color contrast and fresh flavor, but it’s optional.
- For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free pasta.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Cajun pasta, Cream cheese Alfredo, Spiced ground beef, Bowtie pasta recipe, Creamy Cajun pasta
