Description
This Cajun Cream Cheese Alfredo Bowties with Spiced Ground Beef is a creamy, flavorful pasta dish combining tender bowtie pasta with a rich Cajun-spiced cream cheese Alfredo sauce and crispy ground beef. Perfect for a comforting weeknight meal with a spicy twist.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 1 pound bowtie (farfalle) pasta
Spiced Ground Beef
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 tablespoon butter
Cajun Cream Cheese Alfredo Sauce
- 4 ounces cream cheese (softened)
- 1 cup milk or half-and-half
- ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
- 2 tablespoons reserved pasta water (as needed)
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add bowtie pasta and cook until al dente according to package directions. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water, then drain and set aside.
- Brown Ground Beef: In a large skillet, melt 1 tablespoon of butter over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and season with 1 tablespoon of Cajun seasoning, salt, pepper, and optional red pepper flakes. Cook until browned and slightly crispy. Remove from skillet and set aside.
- Sauté Garlic and Butter: In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium. Add remaining 1 tablespoon butter and minced garlic. Sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Make Sauce Base: Add softened cream cheese to the skillet and stir until it melts and softens completely.
- Add Milk and Cheese: Slowly whisk in milk or half-and-half, stirring continuously to create a smooth creamy base and avoid lumps. Then mix in grated Parmesan cheese and the remaining Cajun seasoning. Simmer for 2–3 minutes until the sauce thickens. Adjust seasoning if necessary.
- Combine Ingredients: Return the cooked ground beef to the skillet, then add the drained pasta. Toss everything together to coat the pasta evenly with the creamy sauce, adding reserved pasta water if the sauce seems too thick.
- Serve: Serve the Cajun Cream Cheese Alfredo Bowties hot, garnished with extra Parmesan cheese, chopped parsley, or a sprinkle of red pepper flakes if desired.
Notes
- Reserve pasta water to adjust the consistency of the sauce if needed.
- Red pepper flakes are optional but add a nice extra kick of heat.
- Use half-and-half for a richer sauce or milk for a lighter version.
- This dish pairs well with a simple green salad or steamed vegetables.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American Cajun
Keywords: Cajun pasta, Cream cheese Alfredo, Spiced ground beef, Bowtie pasta, Cajun seasoning dinner
