Description
A rich and comforting creamy Cajun beef and rotini pasta dish perfect for cozy nights. Tender rotini pasta is tossed with spicy Cajun-seasoned ground beef and sautéed vegetables, all enveloped in a luscious heavy cream sauce and finished with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 8 oz Rotini Pasta (or penne or bowtie)
Meat and Dairy
- 1 lb Ground Beef (lean for lighter option)
- 1 cup Heavy Cream
- 1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese (freshly grated)
Vegetables and Seasoning
- 1 cup Bell Peppers (Red and Green, mixed colors for vibrance)
- 1 medium Onion (finely chopped)
- 2 cloves Garlic (minced)
- 2 tbsp Cajun Seasoning (good quality blend or homemade)
- 2 tbsp Olive Oil (for sautéing)
- Salt, to taste
- Black Pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Boil a large pot of salted water and cook the rotini until al dente, about 9-11 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain and set the pasta aside.
- Sauté Vegetables: In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the finely chopped onion and mixed bell peppers and sauté for 4-5 minutes until softened. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- Cook the Beef: Push the vegetables to one side of the skillet. Add the ground beef to the empty side and cook until browned, about 5-7 minutes. Drain any excess fat if necessary.
- Add Seasoning and Cream: Sprinkle Cajun seasoning evenly over the beef and vegetables. Stir to combine. Pour in the heavy cream and allow the mixture to simmer gently for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to blend flavors and thicken the sauce.
- Toss Pasta with Sauce: Add the drained rotini pasta to the skillet with the sauce. Toss thoroughly to coat the pasta in the creamy Cajun beef mixture. Add reserved pasta water gradually as needed to loosen the sauce to your desired consistency.
- Adjust Seasoning and Heat Through: Taste the dish and adjust seasoning by adding salt and black pepper as desired. Continue heating everything together for an additional 2-3 minutes to ensure it is warmed through.
- Serve: Plate the creamy Cajun beef rotini and top generously with freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately and enjoy this comforting, flavorful meal.
Notes
- Use lean ground beef for a lighter version.
- If you prefer a spicier kick, increase the amount of Cajun seasoning or add a pinch of cayenne pepper.
- Different pasta shapes like penne or bowtie work well as alternatives to rotini.
- Reserve pasta water is a great way to adjust the sauce consistency without watering down flavor.
- For a lower fat option, substitute half-and-half for heavy cream, though the sauce will be less rich.
- You can prepare this dish in about 30 minutes, perfect for a quick weeknight dinner.
