One Pot Cajun Beef Pasta with Lots of Vegetables
A quick and easy Cajun beef pasta dish packed with colorful vegetables and cheesy goodness, all cooked in one pot for minimal cleanup.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic (finely minced)
- 1 onion (chopped)
- 500 g beef mince (ground beef) (Note 1)
- 1 medium carrot (shredded) (use a box grater, skin on)
- 1 medium zucchini (shredded) (use a box grater)
- 1 red capsicum (bell pepper, chopped)
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 800 g canned crushed tomato
- 400 g kidney beans (drained) (or other beans of choice, can omit)
- 2 cups chicken stock/broth (low sodium, sub beef stock)
- 2 cups water (just regular tap water!)
- 350 g elbow pasta (uncooked, can use other shapes like macaroni or ziti)
- 1.5 cups colby cheese (or other melting cheese, preferably freshly shredded)
- 1 green onion stem (finely sliced, optional garnish)
Spices and Seasonings
- 1.5 tsp dried thyme
- 1.5 tbsp paprika (sweet/regular, not smoked or spicy)
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp onion powder
- 0.5 tsp cayenne pepper (optional, faintly spicy)
- 0.25 tsp black pepper
- 1.25 tsp cooking salt/kosher salt
Instructions
Cooking
- Heat the oil in a large, heavy-based pot with a lid over high heat.
- Cook the onion and garlic for 2 minutes. Add the beef and cook, breaking it up as you go, until no red meat is visible.
- Add the carrot and zucchini, cooking for another 2 minutes until most of the water evaporates. Then, add the capsicum and cook for an additional 2 minutes.
- Add the tomato paste and Cajun spices, cooking for 1 minute.
- Mix in the canned tomato, water (swilling the cans clean), stock, and beans. Bring to a simmer.
- Stir in the pasta and let it come back to a simmer. Put the lid on and lower the heat slightly to medium, so the liquid is simmering gently.
- Cook for 15 minutes, stirring every few minutes to prevent sticking. The pasta should be a little firmer than desired and the mix should be slightly soupy.
- Stir again, smooth the surface, and sprinkle with cheese. Cover and turn off the stove, leaving the pot on the burner for 3 minutes. The residual heat will melt the cheese and finish cooking the pasta.
- Remove from the stove, sprinkle with green onion if desired, and serve immediately while saucy and cheesy!
Notes
Use freshly shredded cheese for better melting. Feel free to switch up the vegetables based on what's in season or what you have on hand. If you like it spicier, add more cayenne pepper or some hot sauce. Can easily substitute beef with ground turkey, chicken, or a plant-based alternative for a lighter option.