Description

A rich and indulgent Cajun Beef Spaghetti dish featuring perfectly cooked pasta tossed in a creamy three-cheese sauce spiced with bold Cajun seasoning. This flavorful recipe combines ground beef sautéed with aromatic onions and garlic, simmered in a luscious blend of heavy cream, cream cheese, mozzarella, and Parmesan, then finished with fresh herbs for a satisfying, comforting meal.

Ingredients

Scale

Meat and Pasta

1 lb Ground Beef (or turkey for a lighter option)
12 oz Spaghetti (or any pasta of your choice)

Seasonings and Aromatics

2 tbsp Cajun Seasoning (adjust to your heat preference)
1 Onion (diced) (or shallots for a sweeter note)
3 cloves Garlic (minced) (fresh cloves are best)
Salt and Black Pepper (to taste)

Tomatoes and Dairy

14.5 oz Diced Tomatoes (canned or fresh based on availability)
1 cup Heavy Cream (or half-and-half for lighter options)
8 oz Cream Cheese (or low-fat cream cheese)
1 cup Shredded Mozzarella Cheese (or provolone)
0.5 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese (nutritional yeast is a non-dairy alternative)

Fats and Garnishes

1 tbsp Olive Oil (or butter)
1 tbsp Butter (or more olive oil for dairy-free option)
2 tbsp Fresh Parsley or Thyme (chopped) (or fresh basil)

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Instructions

Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil over high heat. Add your spaghetti and cook according to package instructions until al dente, usually around 8–10 minutes. Once cooked, drain the spaghetti in a colander and lightly toss it with olive oil to prevent sticking. Set aside.
Brown the beef: In a large skillet, heat olive oil and butter over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add ground beef and season with Cajun seasoning, cooking until browned, about 5–7 minutes. Remove beef and set aside.
Sauté aromatics: Using the same skillet, reduce heat to medium, sauté the diced onion for about 3 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic, cooking for another 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
Create the creamy sauce: Lower heat to medium-low, stir in heavy cream, diced tomatoes, and cream cheese. Allow cream cheese to melt into the mixture, about 3-4 minutes, stirring continuously for a smooth consistency.
Add cheeses: Add shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan cheeses. Stir until melted and the sauce thickens, about 2-3 minutes. Adjust seasoning with salt and black pepper if necessary.
Combine beef and pasta: Return cooked beef to the skillet with the sauce, gently fold in cooked spaghetti. Toss everything together for 2-3 minutes until pasta is thoroughly coated in the rich, creamy sauce.
Garnish and serve: Plate the Cajun Beef Spaghetti, garnish with fresh parsley or thyme, and serve immediately for best flavor and texture.

Notes

For a lighter meal, substitute ground turkey and use half-and-half instead of heavy cream.
If you prefer a milder dish, reduce the amount of Cajun seasoning or omit it altogether.
Fresh herbs like basil can be used as an alternative garnish to parsley or thyme.
To make the dish dairy-free, use olive oil instead of butter and nutritional yeast instead of Parmesan.
Ensure pasta is well drained and lightly tossed with oil to prevent sticking before mixing into the sauce.