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One Pot Cajun Beef Pasta Recipe

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4.5 from 12 reviews

A hearty and flavorful one-pot Cajun beef pasta that combines lean ground beef, fresh vegetables, kidney beans, and a spicy homemade Cajun blend, simmered with crushed tomatoes and pasta for a comforting and easy dinner.

Ingredients

Meat and Vegetables

  • 500 g lean ground beef (or ground turkey/chicken)
  • 1 brown onion (finely chopped)
  • 2 carrots (grated)
  • 1 zucchini (grated)
  • 1 red capsicum (bell pepper, chopped)

Spices and Sauces

  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 4 tsp homemade Cajun spice blend (or store-bought)
  • 800 g canned crushed tomatoes (2 cans)

Beans and Stock

  • 400 g kidney beans (drained, or beans of choice)
  • 2 cups chicken stock (low sodium, or beef stock)

Pasta and Cheese

  • 250 g dried pasta (penne, rigatoni, or short pasta)
  • 1 1⁄2 cups grated cheese (cheddar, mozzarella, or blend)

Instructions

  1. Brown the Meat: Heat a large, deep skillet or pot over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it apart, until browned. Drain excess fat if needed.
  2. Sauté Vegetables: Add the chopped onion to the beef and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened. Stir in the grated carrots, zucchini, and chopped bell pepper. Cook for another 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to develop flavor and reduce moisture.
  3. Add Tomato Paste and Spices: Stir in the tomato paste and Cajun spice blend. Cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly, to toast the spices and remove the raw edge from the tomato paste.
  4. Add Liquids and Beans: Add the crushed tomatoes (including juice), drained kidney beans, chicken stock, and a splash of water to rinse out the tomato cans. Stir well to combine and bring the mixture to a simmer.
  5. Add Pasta: Add the uncooked pasta to the simmering sauce. Stir well to submerge the pasta in the liquid.
  6. Simmer Covered: Cover the pot with a lid, reduce the heat to medium, and let the pasta simmer. Stir every few minutes to prevent sticking. Maintain a steady simmer, not a rapid boil.
  7. Cook Pasta: Cook for 15 minutes or until the pasta is just al dente, still slightly firm in the center. The sauce will be quite liquidy at this point, which is ideal.
  8. Add Cheese: Remove the pot from heat. Stir in half of the grated cheese until melted and incorporated; residual heat will finish cooking the pasta and thicken the sauce.
  9. Finish and Serve: Top with remaining grated cheese, cover, and let it sit for 5 minutes until cheese is fully melted. Serve immediately, garnished with fresh parsley or a dollop of sour cream if desired.

Notes

  • Use ground turkey or chicken for a lighter alternative to beef.
  • Adjust the Cajun spice blend amount to taste depending on heat preference.
  • Stir frequently during simmering to prevent pasta from sticking to the bottom.
  • For a vegetarian version, substitute ground beef with plant-based mince and use vegetable stock.
  • If the sauce is too thick after resting, add a splash of water or stock before serving.
  • Fresh parsley and sour cream add brightness and creaminess but are optional garnishes.

Find it online: https://hotsavors.com/one-pot-cajun-beef-pasta-recipe/