Creamy Cajun Bowties with Spiced Beef (Print Version)
Hearty Cajun Cream Cheese Alfredo Bowties with Spiced Beef. This creamy, spicy pasta is a weeknight favorite. Easy, comforting, and full of flavor!
# Recipe Info:
Prep Time: 15 Minutes minutes
Cook Time: 25 Minutes minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 4 Servings
Difficulty: Intermediate
Cuisine: American
# Ingredients:
→ For the Spiced Beef
01 -
1 lb (450g) lean ground beef
02 -
1 tbsp Cajun seasoning, plus more to taste
03 -
1 small yellow onion, diced
04 -
2 cloves garlic, minced
→ For the Creamy Alfredo
05 -
12 oz (340g) bowtie pasta (farfalle)
06 -
2 tbsp unsalted butter
07 -
1 ½ cups (360ml) heavy cream
08 -
½ cup (120ml) chicken broth
09 -
4 oz (113g) cream cheese, softened
10 -
¾ cup (75g) freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for garnish
→ Flavor Boosters & Finishing Touches
11 -
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
12 -
¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
# Instructions:
01 -
Grab a large skillet, my friend, and heat it over medium-high. Toss in your ground beef. Break it up with a spoon, you know the drill. Once it's mostly browned, drain off any excess fat—I usually just tilt the pan and spoon it out. Now, add your diced onion and a good tablespoon of Cajun seasoning. Cook until the onion softens, maybe 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally. The smell at this stage? Divine, honestly! I’ve definitely forgotten to stir once or twice and ended up with a slightly too-brown spot, but it still tasted great.
02 -
Push the beef mixture to one side of the pan. Add your minced garlic to the empty side and let it cook for about 30 seconds until it's fragrant. Don't let it burn, that's a mistake I've made before, and burnt garlic is just... sad. Stir it all together with the beef and onion. This is where the base of your rich flavor for the Cajun Cream Cheese Alfredo Bowties really starts to come alive!
03 -
While your beef is doing its thing, bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add your bowtie pasta and cook according to package directions until it's al dente. Remember, we want it to have a little bite! It'll finish cooking in the sauce, so don't overdo it. I always set a timer, because I'm notorious for getting distracted and ending up with mushy pasta, oops!
04 -
Once the beef is cooked and fragrant, remove it from the skillet and set it aside. In the same skillet (don't clean it, those bits are flavor!), melt the butter over medium heat. Once it's shimmering, pour in the heavy cream and chicken broth. Bring it to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally. This is the beginning of that dreamy sauce for your Cajun Cream Cheese Alfredo Bowties, it should start to look velvety.
05 -
Reduce the heat to low. Add the softened cream cheese, a teaspoon of Cajun seasoning, and half of your grated Parmesan cheese to the skillet. Whisk continuously until the cream cheese is fully melted and the sauce is smooth and creamy. Season with salt and black pepper to taste. I'm always tasting at this stage, adding a little more seasoning until it's just right. Sometimes I get a bit carried away with the Cajun spice, but hey, I like a kick!
06 -
Drain your cooked pasta and add it directly to the creamy Alfredo sauce. Stir well to coat every single bowtie. Now, gently fold in your spiced beef mixture. Let it all simmer together for a minute or two, allowing the flavors to meld and the pasta to absorb some of that glorious sauce. The final result for these Cajun Cream Cheese Alfredo Bowties with Spiced Beef should be a thick, rich, and utterly comforting dish. Garnish with fresh parsley and a sprinkle of extra Parmesan, then dig in!
# Notes:
01 -
Don't overcook the pasta! Seriously, al dente is your friend here. It'll finish cooking in the sauce.
02 -
Leftovers are actually pretty good, but sometimes the sauce can thicken. A splash of milk or broth while reheating helps.
03 -
No ground beef? Ground turkey or even a hearty mushroom mix works for a different vibe.
04 -
A sprinkle of fresh parsley at the end really brightens everything up, both in looks and taste!
# Tools You'll Need:
01 -
Large skillet
02 -
large pot
03 -
whisk
04 -
measuring cups and spoons
# Nutrition Facts (Per Serving):
Calories: 650 kcal
Total Fat: 45 g
Total Carbohydrate: 40 g
Protein: 35 g