One Pot Cajun Beef Pasta is a giant, bubbly pasta made with beef and a stunning quantity of hidden greens in a Cajun flavoured tomato pasta sauce, topped with oozy cheese. Serves 7 to eight and makes for glorious leftovers!
A whole one-pot meal with a lot of hidden greens
Right here right now with a glowing new recipe I created with mid-week cooking in thoughts: a giant, effervescent Cajun pasta made with beef and a stunning quantity of hidden greens, so you possibly can serve this as an entire meal. It’s actually economical (500g/1lb beef -> 7 to eight servings), with daring beefy Cajun flavours and smothered with oozy cheese.
The great quantity of Cajun spices used on this recipe lets us pack in greens with out disappointingly diluting the flavour of the dish. You recognize precisely the place I’m coming from, I do know you do!!
On this recipe, we’ve received a carrot, zucchini, and capsicum (bell pepper) with 500g/1 lb of beef, plus there’s additionally 800g/28 oz canned tomato and an onion (these depend as greens too!) All these greens not solely boosts vitamin but additionally stretches the dish to serve 7-8 folks as a substitute of the same old 4-5.
A lot veg. However attempt to inform me you don’t wish to eat this!! ⬇️
Cajun pasta – not genuine, and that’s okay!
In case you’re questioning, no, Cajun pasta isn’t authentically Cajun. The truth is, Cajuns usually use rice. Nevertheless, combining Cajun spices with pasta is well-liked in America and makes for a brilliant tasty dish. So I’m completely on board with it!
Substances on this One Pot Cajun Beef Pasta
I’ve chosen to make use of grated carrot and zucchini which blends in seamlessly into the pasta sauce, plus a chopped capsicum (bell pepper) which is on theme for the Cajun flavours on this dish.
The pasta add-ins
-
Beef – I’ve designed this recipe round beef and I did discover I had the tweak the amount of the Cajun spice mix to get the suitable steadiness of flavour. So when you might substitute with hen, turkey or pork, you may discover the seasoning just a little on the sunshine aspect so I’d enhance the Cajun seasoning a bit. And doubtless add a bit extra fats too, else the mince may appear just a little dried out.
Lamb doesn’t get a point out right here as a result of I really feel like the mix with Cajun spices in a pasta sounds a bit odd? I may very well be unsuitable.
-
Greens – Zucchini and carrot, grated with a field grater so it disappears into the pasta sauce. Plus a crimson capsicum (bell pepper), chopped somewhat than grating as a result of it could flip into watery mush.
-
Onion – This positively counts in direction of your vegetable quota! Plus it types an necessary a part of the flavour base for this pasta.
-
Garlic – The place there may be onion, there may be nearly at all times garlic. Truly, there may be nearly at all times garlic even when onion isn’t current!
-
Kidney beans – This bulks out the recipe with extra dietary worth than utilizing extra pasta, in addition to including a unique texture to the dish. It’s additionally on theme as kidney beans are utilized in Cajun dishes – like crimson beans and rice. 🙂
cajun pasta sauce
The important thing to success with this One Pot Cajun Beef Pasta for completely cooked pasta and sufficient sauce so it’s bubbly and saucy somewhat than dry and stodgy is to make use of sufficient liquid (inventory, canned tomato and water). You can be stunned how a lot the pasta absorbs!
-
Crushed canned tomato – For the pasta sauce. We use 800g/28 oz which makes this pasta good and saucy!
-
Hen inventory/broth and water – The liquid for cooking the pasta. We’d like a good quantity (1 litre / 1 quart) as a result of pasta absorbs a stunning quantity of liquid! I exploit a mix as a result of utilizing simply water makes the sauce just a little bland, however utilizing all hen inventory somewhat than equal components water and inventory didn’t enhance the flavour. So why incur the additional value of utilizing all hen inventory when water is free? 🙂
-
Tomato paste – Simply 2 tablespoons offers the sauce a tomato flavour enhance, and thickens it barely. With out, the sauce is just a bit on the sunshine aspect of tomato-flavour, however I’d nonetheless make this if I used to be out.
-
Do-it-yourself Cajun Spice mix – I like to make use of a home made Cajun spice mix as a result of the standard of Cajun spice blends varies a lot from model to model. Although you probably have a very good one, like Slap Ya Mama, be at liberty to substitute with that.
Listed below are the spices you want for the home made Cajun spice mix:
-
Dried thyme – substitute with recent leaves, chopped
-
Paprika – candy/common, not smoked or spicy
-
Garlic powder – has an earthier flavour than recent garlic. Substitute with extra onion powder, or 2 additional garlic cloves.
-
Onion powder – has an earthier flavour than recent onion, Substitute with extra garlic powder.
-
Cayenne pepper – optionally available, for delicate heat. Be happy to go away it out, or substitute with chilli powder (ie pure chilli, not the US non-spicy chili mix) or a touch of your favorite scorching sauce.
-
Salt and pepper
-
-
Cheese – For melting on the floor. I like to make use of Colby as a result of it melts simply (helpful for recipes the place we use residual warmth to soften the cheese) and doesn’t go greasy. However any melting cheese shall be wonderful right here. Personally I don’t use mozzarella as a result of it doesn’t have fairly sufficient flavour. Or, if I did, I’d add a very good sprinkle of parmesan on prime.
How you can make this One Pot Cajun Beef Pasta
Utilizing the one-pot methodology of cooking pasta the place raw pasta is cooked within the pasta sauce doesn’t work for all recipes. But it surely works extraordinarily properly for some – like this one!
The bonus, aside from much less washing up, is that the pasta absorbs the flavour of the sauce. Additional yum issue!
-
Shred the carrot and zucchini utilizing an ordinary field grater. I wish to grate them so the strands are shorter somewhat than longer (they disguise higher!). I don’t peel the carrot (free vitamin).
-
Prepare dinner – Use a big heavy primarily based pot with a lid. I exploit a 24cm / 9.45″ forged iron pot which will get very full!
Warmth the oil over excessive warmth, and prepare dinner the onion and garlic first to flavour the oil. Then prepare dinner the meat, breaking it up as you go, till it modifications from crimson to brown.
-
Greens and spices – Subsequent, prepare dinner the carrot and zucchini. They are going to launch water at first, however then the water will evaporate. After 2 minutes when they’re partially cooked, add the capsicum and prepare dinner for one more 2 minutes till the carrot and zucchinis wilted.
Then add the tomato paste and all of the Cajun spices. Prepare dinner for one more 1 minute to take the bitter uncooked edge off the tomato paste and get the spices all via the greens and beef.
-
Sauce and pasta – Add the canned tomato, water (I exploit the water to swill out the tomato cans), hen inventory and beans. Give it a very good stir and convey it as much as the simmer earlier than including the pasta.
-
Prepare dinner quarter-hour – As soon as the liquid comes again as much as the simmer, cowl with the lid after which decrease the warmth to medium. We would like the liquid simmering, however not effervescent madly (too robust, base will catch) nor nonetheless which suggests it isn’t scorching sufficient (the pasta will simply be sitting there bloating in scorching liquid somewhat than cooking).
-
Stir each jiffy to make sure the bottom doesn’t catch. Because it cooks, the liquid will get absorbed by the pasta.
The pasta is prepared when it’s nearly cooked (ie centre remains to be a bit firmer than you need). Will probably be somewhat watery nonetheless which is what we wish. The pasta will end cooking and the surplus liquid shall be absorbed within the subsequent step! **Cease right here if making forward, see field beneath for ideas.**
-
Cheese it! Working rapidly (so we don’t lose warmth), give the pasta one huge stir, easy the floor, then sprinkle the floor with cheese.
-
3 minutes – Cowl with the lid and switch the range off. Go away the pot on the range for 3 minutes to let the residual warmth soften the cheese. Then carry the lid and be greeted with THIS DELERIOUSLY DELICIOUS SIGHT! ⬇️⬇️⬇️
Serve instantly, whereas the pasta is at its peak, scorching and oozy. As a result of as with all pastas, the longer this sits round, the much less saucy it turns into because the pasta will proceed to soak up liquid.
Although honestly, it doesn’t trouble me even when it’s not as saucy as freshly made. I used to be fortunately warming up leftovers and consuming this for breakfast 4 days later, then I made one other couple of batches “simply to examine it another time” and froze them to donate via RecipeTin Meals (my meals financial institution).
I believe that is One Pot Cajun Beef Pasta is one other recipe ideally suited so as to add to our RTM rotation – nutritious, economical, simple to scale up, retains properly and rattling tasty! – Nagi x
PS The token inexperienced onion sprinkle is in no way necessary, simply my try so as to add a splash of inexperienced to the molten blanket of yellow.
PPS For these , I did a publish on the Prime 10 meals we make at RTM -> Prime 10 recipes we make at RecipeTin Meals. It’s a helpful listing for recipes that are perfect for making forward, freezing, healthful, economical and the kind of meals everyone loves. We are likely to keep away from issues like bold-flavoured spicy Vindaloo curry at RTM! 🙂
One-pot Cajun Beef Pasta FAQ
If making the entire dish forward to reheat one other day, cease when the pasta is cooked however don’t put the cheese on. Take it off the range and let it cool with the lid off. You would even switch into an ovenproof dish at this stage. Sprinkle with cheese then fridge or freeze!
Simply be aware in case you freeze the entire dish, it will likely be a formidable block so permit enough time to thaw (I’d permit 2 days within the fridge or give it a very good head begin on the counter then thaw in a single day).
I’m afraid I haven’t tried. Because the absorption charge of GF pasta is totally different, the liquid-to-pasta ratio would require adjustment. If you happen to scan the feedback, somebody might have tried it and shared their ideas. I discover this to be the case with most recipes. My readers are so good and useful! 🙂
Only a very background trace of heat from the cayenne pepper within the home made Cajun Spice Combine. However you possibly can simply omit it, it received’t compromise the flavour. 🙂
Nope. The truth is, Cajuns want rice over pasta! However utilizing Cajun spices in a pasta dish is a “factor” within the States, and it’s a tasty manner so as to add flavour right into a pasta dish. So I’m completely on board!
Not too many, as I’ve a handful of tomato primarily based one-pot pasta recipes on my web site (like Cheeseburger Casserole – don’t let that identify put you off, it’s one in every of my favourites! Chilli Mac, One Pot Vegetable Pasta, Creamy Tomato Beef Pasta, to call a couple of.)
The principle variable right here was the sheer quantity of greens within the dish, which was intentional. I needed to dial up flavour (as a result of it’s dispersed all through a lot extra “stuff”). Within the first iteration I had WAY an excessive amount of greens in it which overwhelmed the meat, so it was like consuming a vegetable pasta with a tiny quantity of beef! Whereas I wished a beefy pasta and to cover as a lot greens as I might get away with.
Then it was nearly getting the liquid-to-pasta ratio proper, and the prepare dinner time. There’s a common rule of thumb, however I discover that with each one-pot pasta recipe it differs barely, relying on sauce thickness.
Watch the way to make it
Hungry for extra? Subscribe to my publication and comply with alongside on Fb, Pinterest and Instagram for the entire newest updates.
One Pot Cajun Beef Pasta with lots-of-veg
Prep: 15 minutes
Prepare dinner: 25 minutes
Most important, One Pot Meals
Western
Servings7 – 8
Faucet or hover to scale
Substances
One-pot pasta:
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves , finely minced
- 1 onion , chopped
- 500g/ 1 lb beef mince (floor beef) (Observe 1)
- 1 carrot , medium, shredded utilizing field grater (I hold pores and skin on)
- 1 zucchini , medium, shredded utilizing field grater (Observe 2)
- 1 crimson capsicum (bell pepper), chopped (Observe 2)
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 800g/ 28 oz canned crushed tomato
- 400g/ 14 oz kidney beans , drained (or different beans of selection, can omit)
- 2 cups hen inventory/broth , low sodium (sub beef inventory)
- 2 cups water (simply common faucet water!)
- 350g / 12 oz (3 cups) elbow pasta (macaroni) , spirals, penne, ziti, small shells, rigatoni or related measurement, raw (Observe 3)
- 1 1/2 cups (tightly packed) colby cheese or different melting cheese of selection, ideally freshly shredded (melts higher)
- 1 inexperienced onion stem , finely sliced (optionally available garnish)
Directions
-
Warmth the oil in a big heavy primarily based pot with a lid over excessive warmth.
-
Prepare dinner greens – Prepare dinner the onion and garlic for two minutes. Add the meat and prepare dinner, breaking it up as you go, till you now not see crimson meat. Add the carrot and zucchini, prepare dinner for two minutes till the water they launch principally evaporates. Add the capsicum and prepare dinner for two minutes.
-
Spices – Add the tomato paste and Cajun Spices. Prepare dinner for 1 minute.
-
Pasta sauce – Add the canned tomato, water (I swill the cans clear), inventory and beans. Combine and convey to a simmer.
-
Add the pasta, stir, let it come again as much as the simmer. Put the lid on and decrease the warmth barely to medium so the liquid is simmering (not effervescent madly).
-
Prepare dinner for quarter-hour, stirring each jiffy so the bottom would not catch. The pasta must be a bit firmer than you need within the center, and nonetheless a bit soupy which is nice! Liquid will get absorbed within the subsequent step.
-
Soften cheese – Give it a stir, easy the floor, sprinkle with cheese. Put the lid on then flip the range off (go away the pot on the range). Go away for 3 minutes so the residual warmth melts the cheese and the pasta finishes cooking.
-
Serve – Take away from the range, sprinkle with inexperienced onion if desired, then serve instantly whereas saucy and the cheese is gooey!
Recipe Notes:
A reader additionally made this with kangaroo and reported scrumptious outcomes!
2. Greens – You may change the carrot, zucchini capsicum for different greens, simply chop them in a manner that is sensible. An enormous handful of child spinach stirred in simply earlier than topping with cheese involves thoughts. I like shredding the carrot and zucchini as a result of it disappears.
3. Pasta – the three cup measure for 350g/12 oz is for elbow pasta/macaroni solely. The cup amount for different pasta shapes will differ.
Leftovers – So scrumptious! Retains higher than many pastas as a result of it’s so good and saucy so it doesn’t get too stodgy and dry. Fridge 4 days, freezer 3 months! Making forward – If making the entire dish forward deliberately, cease after step 6, take it off the range and let it cool (you may even switch into an ovenproof dish at this stage). Sprinkle with cheese then fridge or freeze!
Diet per serving assuming 8 servings.
Diet Data:
Energy: 507cal (25%)Carbohydrates: 59g (20%)Protein: 34g (68%)Fats: 16g (25%)Saturated Fats: 8g (50%)Polyunsaturated Fats: 1gMonounsaturated Fats: 6gTrans Fats: 0.2gLdl cholesterol: 67mg (22%)Sodium: 995mg (43%)Potassium: 1091mg (31%)Fiber: 9g (38%)Sugar: 9g (10%)Vitamin A: 3063IU (61%)Vitamin C: 36mg (44%)Calcium: 292mg (29%)Iron: 6mg (33%)
Lifetime of Dozer
My new cookbook TONIGHT hits cabinets all over the world subsequent month! 15 October in Australia, 17 October within the UK and 29 October within the US. I CAN’T WAIT!!
Dozer options prominently on this one. I insisted. No Dozer, no cookbook! He’s in each single Chapter opener. Right here’s one in every of my favourites – no organising required, 100% Dozer/Nagi scenario!
And a few images I discovered on my digicam from the shoot day:
Truly, I haven’t been these images from the early cookbook shoot days as a result of it makes me just a little unhappy. It was simply earlier than he was identified along with his situation and had his surgical procedure, and all I can assume is how I dragged him alongside to all these shoot days and he made such an effort to co-operate like the nice boy he’s. However he should’ve been struggling so terribly, unable to breathe correctly. 😭
I keep in mind on the final day of taking pictures, he struggled a lot to stroll simply 50 meters from the constructing to the automotive on the finish of the day. Breaks my coronary heart understanding I pushed him too laborious, not understanding he was not properly. 💔
Anyway! He’s so significantly better now, and I’m so grateful.
And the most effective reward for all that arduous work I put into the cookbook? That he’s right here with me to rejoice the launch subsequent month.
I’ve the most effective canine on the planet. – Nagi x
Our new cookbook TONIGHT is now obtainable for pre-order so you possibly can safe a duplicate and get it right away when it releases in October! It’s not all Dozer. There’s a recipe or two in there as properly. 😉