Cheesy Bowtie Pasta with Savory Cajun Ground Beef in Garlic Cream

Big flavor, cozy comfort, and weeknight speed—this creamy bowtie pasta with Cajun-spiced ground beef brings restaurant vibes to your table in under an hour. Tender farfalle gets tossed in a garlicky Parmesan cream while savory, lightly spicy beef and sweet bell peppers add hearty balance. It’s an easy dinner that delivers serious comfort food satisfaction and checks all the boxes for quick dinner, easy recipe, weeknight meal, pasta night, dinner ideas, and family-friendly food ideas.

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Prep Time 15

Cook Time 25

Total Time 40

Course Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine American, Cajun-inspired

Servings servings

Calories 780 kcal

Equipment

Large pot
Large Skillet
Colander
Wooden Spoon

Ingredients

12 oz bowtie pasta (farfalle)
1 lb ground beef (85–90% lean)
1 tbsp olive oil
1 medium red bell pepper, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp unsalted butter
1 tbsp Cajun seasoning
0.5 tsp smoked paprika optional
1.5 cups heavy cream
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese plus more for serving
0.5 tsp kosher salt or to taste
0.25 tsp black pepper
0.5 cup reserved pasta cooking water
2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
1 pinch red pepper flakes optional

Instructions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook bowtie pasta until al dente; reserve 1/2 cup pasta water and drain.
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown ground beef, breaking it up, until cooked through; drain excess fat.
Stir in bell pepper, Cajun seasoning, and smoked paprika. Cook 2–3 minutes until peppers soften and spices bloom. Transfer beef mixture to a bowl.
In the same skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add garlic; cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
Pour in heavy cream and simmer gently 2–3 minutes. Whisk in Parmesan until smooth; season with salt and black pepper.
Add pasta to the skillet and toss to coat; loosen with reserved pasta water as needed so the sauce clings.
Spoon the Cajun beef over or fold through the pasta. Garnish with parsley, extra Parmesan, and red pepper flakes if desired. Serve hot.

Notes

Use freshly grated Parmesan for the smoothest sauce. Adjust Cajun seasoning and red pepper flakes to control heat.

Nutrition

Calories: 780kcalCarbohydrates: 63gProtein: 37gFat: 42gSaturated Fat: 21gCholesterol: 150mgSodium: 980mgFiber: 3gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 1200IUVitamin C: 45mgCalcium: 420mgIron: 5mg

Keyword Cajun pasta, easy recipe, garlic cream sauce, ground beef pasta, pasta night, quick dinner, weeknight meal

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