Description
A rich and flavorful Cajun Cream Cheese Alfredo Bowties recipe featuring tender bowtie pasta tossed in a creamy Cajun-spiced Alfredo sauce with savory spiced ground beef, garlic, and onions. This comforting dish combines the creaminess of Parmesan and cream cheese with bold Cajun seasoning, perfect for a hearty weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 1 pound bowtie pasta
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
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 tablespoons butter
Garnish
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the bowtie pasta and cook until al dente, usually about 9-11 minutes. Drain the pasta and set it aside.
- Brown Ground Beef: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook, crumbling it until browned and cooked through. Season with Cajun seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Once done, remove the beef from the skillet and set aside.
- Sauté Aromatics: In the same skillet, add butter. Once melted, sauté the chopped onion and minced garlic until they are fragrant and soft, about 3-4 minutes.
- Make Cream Sauce: Add the cream cheese to the skillet and stir continuously until it melts smoothly. Pour in the heavy cream and stir until the sauce thickens slightly, about 3-5 minutes.
- Add Cheese and Seasoning: Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until fully incorporated. Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning with extra Cajun seasoning, salt, or pepper as desired.
- Combine Beef and Sauce: Return the cooked spiced ground beef to the skillet, mixing it well into the creamy sauce to coat the meat evenly.
- Mix Pasta: Add the drained bowtie pasta to the skillet. Gently fold the pasta into the beef and sauce mixture until thoroughly coated and heated through.
- Serve: Plate the pasta hot, garnished with chopped fresh parsley and additional Parmesan cheese if desired. Enjoy immediately.
Notes
- For extra spice, add more Cajun seasoning or a pinch of cayenne pepper.
- You can substitute bowtie pasta with any short pasta like penne or rotini.
- To make it lighter, use half-and-half instead of heavy cream, but the sauce will be less rich.
- Fresh parsley adds a nice color and freshness but is optional.
- Make sure to not overcook the pasta to keep the texture perfect.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Cajun
Keywords: Cajun Alfredo, Cream Cheese Pasta, Spiced Ground Beef, Bowtie Pasta Recipe, Easy Weeknight Dinner
