One Pot Cajun Beef and Cheddar Pasta
A hearty and flavorful one-pot meal combining ground beef, pasta, and a creamy, cheesy sauce with a kick of Cajun spice.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb Ground Beef
- 1 medium Onion, chopped
- 1 medium Bell Pepper, chopped
- 2 cloves Garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp Cajun Seasoning
- 1 tsp Smoked Paprika
- 1 tsp Salt
- ½ tsp Black Pepper
- 1 can (14.5 oz) Diced Tomatoes with Green Chilies, undrained
- 1 block (8 oz) Cream Cheese, softened
- 1 cup Beef Broth
- 1 cup Heavy Cream
- 8 oz Elbow Macaroni
- 2 cups Cheddar Cheese, shredded
- 1 tbsp Olive Oil
- to taste Fresh Parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
Cooking
- Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook for about 6-7 minutes, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and fully cooked. Carefully drain the excess fat.
- Add the chopped onion, bell pepper, and minced garlic to the pot. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until the vegetables soften and the garlic is fragrant.
- Sprinkle in the Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Stir well to coat all ingredients evenly with the spices.
- Pour in the undrained diced tomatoes with green chilies, along with the cream cheese, beef broth, and heavy cream. Stir regularly until the cream cheese melts completely and the sauce turns smooth.
- Gently add the elbow macaroni to the pot, stir to combine, and bring everything to a simmer.
- Cover the pot and cook for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed.
- Uncover and stir in the shredded cheddar cheese until it melts and the sauce is extra creamy.
- Taste and adjust the seasonings as preferred. Top with freshly chopped parsley before serving.
Notes
For a spicier dish, consider using hot diced tomatoes or adding sliced jalapeños. Feel free to mix in other vegetables like spinach or mushrooms. To lighten the dish, swap the heavy cream for half-and-half or milk and use lean ground turkey instead of beef.