Description
A rich and soul-satisfying pasta dish that blends bold Southern spices with comfort food indulgence. Tender ground beef, perfectly cooked rotini pasta, and a silky Cajun-spiced cream sauce come together in a harmony of heat and flavor, ready in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 8 oz rotini pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 small onion, finely chopped (optional)
- ½ cup diced bell peppers (optional)
- ¾ cup heavy cream
- ½ cup chicken or beef broth
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Fresh chopped parsley for garnish (optional)
- Extra Parmesan cheese for garnish (optional)
- Crushed red pepper flakes for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Fill a large pot with water, add salt, and bring to a boil. Cook rotini pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water before draining.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high. Add ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it apart with a spoon. Drain any excess grease.
- Add chopped onions and bell peppers to the skillet. Sauté for 3–4 minutes until softened. Stir in Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook for 1–2 more minutes.
- Reduce heat to medium. Pour in heavy cream and broth. Stir and simmer for 2–3 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Add Parmesan cheese and stir until melted. Toss in the drained rotini and mix to coat evenly. Add a splash of pasta water if the sauce is too thick.
- Taste and adjust seasoning. Garnish with parsley, extra Parmesan, or red pepper flakes if desired.
- Serve hot and enjoy the creamy Cajun comfort!
Notes
- Use room-temperature cream to prevent curdling when adding it to the hot skillet.
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese melts better than pre-shredded varieties and creates a smoother sauce.
- Don’t skip the pasta water—it helps emulsify and loosen the sauce if needed.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Cajun-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 ½ cups
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 29g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
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