Description
Looking for a vibrant and zesty pasta dish that’s easy to prepare?
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound bowtie (farfalle) pasta
- 1 pound ground beef
- 4 ounces cream cheese (softened)
- 1 cup milk or half-and-half
- ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning (divided)
- ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 tablespoons reserved pasta water (as needed)
Instructions
- Begin by bringing a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Carefully add the bowtie pasta and cook it according to the package instructions until it reaches the perfect al dente texture. Remember to reserve about half a cup of the starchy pasta water before draining the pasta.
- Grab a large skillet and place it over medium-high heat. Melt 1 tablespoon of butter and add the ground beef to the skillet. Season the beef with 1 tablespoon of Cajun seasoning, along with salt, pepper, and the optional red pepper flakes for an extra kick.
- In the same skillet, where the beef was cooked, reduce the heat to medium and add the remaining tablespoon of butter. Let it melt, then add the minced garlic, sautéing it for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Next, stir in the cream cheese, mixing until it’s softened and blended well.
- Begin to whisk in the milk or half-and-half gradually, stirring constantly to eliminate lumps. The sauce will become smooth and creamy.
- Once the milk is fully incorporated, sprinkle in the grated Parmesan cheese along with the remaining Cajun seasoning. Let the sauce simmer for about 2–3 minutes, stirring occasionally until it thickens slightly.
- Reintroduce the cooked ground beef to the creamy skillet and stir in the drained bowtie pasta. Mix everything thoroughly to ensure the pasta is well-coated with the sauce.
- Your Cajun Cream Cheese Alfredo Bowties are now ready to dazzle your taste buds! Serve the pasta hot, garnished with extra Parmesan cheese, a sprinkle of chopped parsley, or even a dash more of red pepper flakes.
Notes
For a lower-calorie version, substitute the cream cheese with Greek yogurt.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
Nutrition
- Calories: 720 kcal
- Sodium: 750 mg
- Protein: 40 g