Description
Looking for a bold, creamy, and comforting dish that’s ready in about 30 minutes? This Cajun Cream Cheese Alfredo Bowties with Spiced Ground Beef is a weeknight dinner dream. It blends smoky Cajun flavors with a rich cream cheese Alfredo sauce, wrapped around perfectly cooked bowtie pasta and savory ground beef. This easy dinner is packed with flavor, family-friendly, and ideal for those in need of quick dinner ideas, easy recipes, or hearty comfort food. Whether you’re planning quick weeknight meals or searching for bold food ideas, this one-pan meal delivers.
Ingredients
12 oz bowtie pasta
1 lb ground beef
8 oz cream cheese
2 tbsp Cajun seasoning
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 small onion, chopped
1 cup heavy cream
1 ½ cups shredded cheese (cheddar, Monterey Jack, or mozzarella)
2 tbsp butter
½ tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook bowtie pasta until al dente, then drain and reserve ½ cup pasta water.
2. In a large skillet, cook ground beef over medium-high heat until browned. Drain excess fat and season with half the Cajun seasoning. Set aside.
3. In the same skillet, melt butter and sauté chopped onions for 3–4 minutes until soft. Add garlic and cook another minute.
4. Reduce heat and stir in cream cheese until melted. Add heavy cream and stir until smooth. Mix in remaining Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper.
5. Stir in half the shredded cheese until melted. Add cooked beef and pasta. Toss everything to coat well. Add pasta water if needed to loosen sauce.
6. Top with remaining cheese. Cover and let it melt, or broil for 1–2 minutes until golden and bubbly.
7. Garnish with parsley and serve hot.
Notes
Let the cream cheese sit at room temperature before cooking for easier melting.
Don’t skip the pasta water — it helps create a silky sauce that clings to the noodles.
Use a mix of cheeses for better flavor depth and meltability.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Cajun-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 580
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 760mg
- Fat: 34g
- Saturated Fat: 17g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 41g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 27g
- Cholesterol: 110mg
Keywords: easy dinner, creamy pasta, ground beef recipe, quick meals, Cajun Alfredo, pasta dinner, one pot meals, comfort food