One Pot Cajun Beef Pasta is an enormous, bubbly pasta made with beef and a shocking quantity of hidden greens in a Cajun flavoured tomato pasta sauce, topped with oozy cheese. Serves 7 to eight and makes for very good leftovers!
An entire one-pot meal with fairly a number of hidden greens
Correct proper right here presently with a glowing new recipe I created with mid-week cooking in concepts: a big, effervescent Cajun pasta made with beef and a shocking quantity of hidden greens, so that you just most likely can serve this as a complete meal. It’s actually economical (500g/1lb beef -> 7 to eight servings), with daring beefy Cajun flavours and smothered with oozy cheese.
The nice quantity of Cajun spices used on this recipe lets us pack in greens with out disappointingly diluting the flavour of the dish. You acknowledge precisely the place I’m coming from, I do know you do!!
On this recipe, we’ve obtained a carrot, zucchini, and capsicum (bell pepper) with 500g/1 lb of beef, plus there’s furthermore 800g/28 oz canned tomato and an onion (these rely as greens too!) All these greens not solely boosts vitamin nevertheless in addition to stretches the dish to serve 7-8 of us instead of the standard 4-5.
Fairly rather a lot veg. Nonetheless attempt to inform me you don’t need to eat this!! ⬇️
Cajun pasta – not actual, and that’s okay!
In case you possibly can be questioning, no, Cajun pasta isn’t authentically Cajun. The fact is, Cajuns usually use rice. Nonetheless, combining Cajun spices with pasta is frequent in America and makes for an excellent tasty dish. So I’m absolutely on board with it!
Substances on this One Pot Cajun Beef Pasta
I’ve chosen to make the most 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 spherical beef and I did uncover I had the tweak the amount of the Cajun spice mix to get the precise steadiness of flavour. So whilst you could substitute with hen, turkey or pork, you would possibly uncover the seasoning only a bit on the sunshine aspect so I’d enhance the Cajun seasoning a bit. And possibly add a bit extra fats too, else the mince could sound only a bit dried out.
Lamb doesn’t get a level out correct proper right here due to I truly actually really feel just like the combo with Cajun spices in a pasta sounds a bit odd? I might be flawed.
Greens – Zucchini and carrot, grated with a self-discipline grater so it disappears into the pasta sauce. Plus a purple capsicum (bell pepper), chopped barely than grating due to it could flip into watery mush.
Onion – This fully counts throughout the route of your vegetable quota! Plus it kinds an essential a part of the flavour base for this pasta.
Garlic – The place there is also onion, there is also nearly at all times garlic. Really, there is also nearly at all times garlic even when onion shouldn’t be going to be current!
Kidney beans – This bulks out the recipe with extra dietary worth than utilizing extra pasta, together with along with a selected texture to the dish. It’s furthermore on theme as kidney beans are utilized in Cajun dishes – like purple beans and rice. 🙂
cajun pasta sauce
The mandatory issue to success with this One Pot Cajun Beef Pasta for absolutely cooked pasta and ample sauce so it’s bubbly and saucy barely than dry and stodgy is to make the most of ample liquid (inventory, canned tomato and water). It’s possible you’ll be stunned how masses 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 want a large amount (1 litre / 1 quart) due to pasta absorbs a shocking quantity of liquid! I profit from a combination due to utilizing merely water makes the sauce only a bit bland, nonetheless utilizing all hen inventory barely than equal elements water and inventory didn’t enhance the flavour. So why incur the additional price of utilizing all hen inventory when water is free? 🙂
Tomato paste – Merely 2 tablespoons affords 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, nonetheless I’d nonetheless make this if I used to be out.
Handmade Cajun Spice mix – I desire to utilize a home made Cajun spice mix due to the standard of Cajun spice blends varies masses from model to model. Although in case you’ve got a wonderful one, like Slap Ya Mama, be blissful to substitute with that.
Listed under are the spices you want for the home made Cajun spice mix:
Dried thyme – substitute with newest leaves, chopped
Paprika – candy/frequent, not smoked or spicy
Garlic powder – has an earthier flavour than newest garlic. Substitute with extra onion powder, or 2 additional garlic cloves.
Onion powder – has an earthier flavour than newest onion, Substitute with extra garlic powder.
Cayenne pepper – non-compulsory, for refined heat. Be at liberty to depart it out, or substitute with chilli powder (ie pure chilli, not the US non-spicy chili mix) or a splash of your favorite scorching sauce.
Salt and pepper
Cheese – For melting on the bottom. I desire to utilize Colby due to it melts merely (helpful for recipes the place we use residual warmth to soften the cheese) and doesn’t go greasy. Nonetheless any melting cheese will seemingly be superb correct proper right here. Personally I don’t use mozzarella due to it doesn’t have fairly ample flavour. Or, if I did, I’d add a wonderful sprinkle of parmesan on extreme.
The easiest way to make this One Pot Cajun Beef Pasta
Utilizing the one-pot technique of cooking pasta the place raw pasta is cooked contained in the pasta sauce doesn’t work for all recipes. Nonetheless it completely works terribly correctly for some – like this one!
The bonus, apart from rather a lot a lot much less washing up, is that the pasta absorbs the flavour of the sauce. Further yum downside!
Shred the carrot and zucchini utilizing a typical self-discipline grater. I select to grate them so the strands are shorter barely than longer (they disguise larger!). I don’t peel the carrot (free vitamin).
Put collectively dinner – Use an infinite heavy primarily based completely pot with a lid. I profit from a 24cm / 9.45″ forged iron pot which may get very full!
Warmth the oil over excessive warmth, and put collectively dinner the onion and garlic first to flavour the oil. Then put collectively dinner the meat, breaking it up as you go, till it modifications from purple to brown.
Greens and spices – Subsequent, put collectively dinner the carrot and zucchini. They will launch water at first, nonetheless then the water will evaporate. After 2 minutes as soon as they’re partially cooked, add the capsicum and put collectively dinner for one more 2 minutes till the carrot and zucchinis wilted.
Then add the tomato paste and all of the Cajun spices. Put collectively dinner for one more 1 minute to take the bitter uncooked edge off the tomato paste and get the spices all by means of the greens and beef.
Sauce and pasta – Add the canned tomato, water (I profit from the water to swill out the tomato cans), hen inventory and beans. Give it a wonderful stir and produce it as rather a lot as a result of the simmer prior to along with the pasta.
Put collectively dinner quarter-hour – As shortly as a result of the liquid comes as soon as extra as rather a lot as a result of the simmer, cowl with the lid after which decrease the warmth to medium. We would like the liquid simmering, nonetheless not effervescent madly (too sturdy, base will catch) nor nonetheless which suggests it isn’t scorching ample (the pasta will merely be sitting there bloating in scorching liquid barely than cooking).
Stir each jiffy to confirm the underside doesn’t catch. On account of it cooks, the liquid will get absorbed by the pasta.
The pasta is prepared when it’s nearly cooked (ie centre continues to be a bit firmer than you need). It will seemingly be barely watery nonetheless which is what we want. The pasta will end cooking and the surplus liquid will seemingly be absorbed inside the following step! **Cease correct proper right here if making forward, see self-discipline beneath for concepts.**
Cheese it! Working shortly (so we don’t lose warmth), give the pasta one massive stir, easy the bottom, then sprinkle the bottom with cheese.
3 minutes – Cowl with the lid and alter the differ off. Go away the pot on the differ 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. On account of as with all pastas, the longer this sits spherical, the rather a lot a lot much less saucy it turns into on account of the pasta will proceed to soak up liquid.
Although actually, 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 totally different couple of batches “merely to verify it however one more time” and froze them to donate by means of RecipeTin Meals (my meals financial institution).
I think about that is One Pot Cajun Beef Pasta is one totally different recipe ideally suited so as in order so as to add to our RTM rotation – nutritious, economical, straightforward to scale up, retains correctly and rattling tasty! – Nagi x
PS The token inexperienced onion sprinkle is actually not obligatory, merely my try so as in order so as to add a splash of inexperienced to the molten blanket of yellow.
PPS For these , I did a submit on the Extreme 10 meals we make at RTM -> Extreme 10 recipes we make at RecipeTin Meals. It’s a helpful tips for recipes that are wonderful for making forward, freezing, healthful, economical and the kind of meals all people loves. We’re susceptible to avoid factors like bold-flavoured spicy Vindaloo curry at RTM! 🙂
One-pot Cajun Beef Pasta FAQ
If making the entire dish forward to reheat one totally different day, cease when the pasta is cooked nonetheless don’t put the cheese on. Take it off the differ and let it cool with the lid off. You will even become an ovenproof dish at this stage. Sprinkle with cheese then fridge or freeze!
Merely be acutely conscious in case you freeze the entire dish, will perhaps be a formidable block so permit passable time to thaw (I’d permit 2 days contained in the fridge or give it a wonderful head begin on the counter then thaw in a single day).
I’m afraid I haven’t tried. On account of the absorption cost of GF pasta is completely completely totally different, the liquid-to-pasta ratio would require adjustment. When you scan the ideas, any particular person may have tried it and shared their concepts. I uncover this to be the case with most recipes. My readers are so good and useful! 🙂
Solely a very background trace of heat from the cayenne pepper contained in the handmade Cajun Spice Combine. Nonetheless you most likely can merely omit it, it gained’t compromise the flavour. 🙂
Nope. The fact is, Cajuns favor rice over pasta! Nonetheless utilizing Cajun spices in a pasta dish is a “situation” contained in the States, and it’s a tasty method so as in order so as to add flavour correct proper right into a pasta dish. So I’m absolutely on board!
Not too many, as I’ve a handful of tomato primarily based completely one-pot pasta recipes on my net web page (like Cheeseburger Casserole – don’t let that title put you off, it’s considered actually one in every of my favourites! Chilli Mac, One Pot Vegetable Pasta, Creamy Tomato Beef Pasta, to call a number of.)
The primary variable correct proper right here was the sheer quantity of greens contained in the dish, which was intentional. I wished to dial up flavour (due to it’s dispersed all by the use of masses extra “stuff”). Inside the primary 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 cowl as masses greens as I would get away with.
Then it was nearly getting the liquid-to-pasta ratio right, and the put collectively supper time. There’s a common rule of thumb, nonetheless I uncover that with each one-pot pasta recipe it differs barely, relying on sauce thickness.
Watch discover ways to make it
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One Pot Cajun Beef Pasta with lots-of-veg
Prep: 15 minutes
Put collectively dinner: 25 minutes
Principal, 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 (flooring beef) (Observe 1)
- 1 carrot , medium, shredded utilizing self-discipline grater (I defend pores and pores and pores and skin on)
- 1 zucchini , medium, shredded utilizing self-discipline grater (Observe 2)
- 1 purple capsicum (bell pepper), chopped (Observe 2)
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 800g/ 28 oz canned crushed tomato
- 400g/ 14 oz kidney beans , drained (or completely totally different beans of selection, can omit)
- 2 cups hen inventory/broth , low sodium (sub beef inventory)
- 2 cups water (merely frequent faucet water!)
- 350g / 12 oz (3 cups) elbow pasta (macaroni) , spirals, penne, ziti, small shells, rigatoni or comparable measurement, raw (Observe 3)
- 1 1/2 cups (tightly packed) colby cheese or completely totally different melting cheese of selection, ideally freshly shredded (melts larger)
- 1 inexperienced onion stem , finely sliced (non-compulsory garnish)
Directions
Warmth the oil in an infinite heavy primarily based completely pot with a lid over excessive warmth.
Put collectively dinner greens – Put collectively dinner the onion and garlic for two minutes. Add the meat and put collectively dinner, breaking it up as you go, till you now not see purple meat. Add the carrot and zucchini, put collectively dinner for two minutes till the water they launch principally evaporates. Add the capsicum and put collectively dinner for two minutes.
Spices – Add the tomato paste and Cajun Spices. Put collectively dinner for 1 minute.
Pasta sauce – Add the canned tomato, water (I swill the cans clear), inventory and beans. Combine and produce to a simmer.
Add the pasta, stir, let it come as soon as extra as rather a lot as a result of the simmer. Put the lid on and cut back the warmth barely to medium so the liquid is simmering (not effervescent madly).
Put collectively dinner for quarter-hour, stirring each jiffy so the underside would not catch. The pasta should be a bit firmer than you need inside the center, and nonetheless a bit soupy which is good! Liquid will get absorbed inside the following step.
Soften cheese – Give it a stir, easy the bottom, sprinkle with cheese. Put the lid on then flip the differ off (go away the pot on the differ). Go away for 3 minutes so the residual warmth melts the cheese and the pasta finishes cooking.
Serve – Take away from the differ, sprinkle with inexperienced onion if desired, then serve instantly whereas saucy and the cheese is gooey!
Recipe Notes:
A reader furthermore made this with kangaroo and reported scrumptious outcomes!
2. Greens – You’ll be able to change the carrot, zucchini capsicum for varied greens, merely chop them in a means that is good. An infinite handful of child spinach stirred in merely prior to topping with cheese entails concepts. I like shredding the carrot and zucchini due to it disappears.
3. Pasta – the three cup measure for 350g/12 oz is for elbow pasta/macaroni solely. The cup amount for varied pasta shapes will differ.
Leftovers – So scrumptious! Retains larger than many pastas due to 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 differ and let it cool (you could even become an ovenproof dish at this stage). Sprinkle with cheese then fridge or freeze!
Consuming routine per serving assuming 8 servings.
Consuming routine Info:
Vitality: 507cal (25%)Carbohydrates: 59g (20%)Protein: 34g (68%)Fats: 16g (25%)Saturated Fats: 8g (50%)Polyunsaturated Fats: 1gMonounsaturated Fats: 6gTrans Fats: 0.2gLdl ldl ldl 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 world intensive subsequent month! 15 October in Australia, 17 October contained in the UK and 29 October contained in the US. I CAN’T WAIT!!
Dozer decisions prominently on this one. I insisted. No Dozer, no cookbook! He’s in each single Chapter opener. Correct proper right here’s considered actually one in every of my favourites – no organising required, 100% Dozer/Nagi state of affairs!
And a few photos I discovered on my digital digicam from the shoot day:
Really, I haven’t been these photos from the early cookbook shoot days due to it makes me only a bit unhappy. It was merely prior to he was acknowledged alongside collectively together with his situation and had his surgical course of, 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 great boy he’s. Nonetheless he should’ve been struggling so terribly, unable to breathe precisely. 😭
I be mindful on the last word day of capturing, he struggled masses to stroll merely 50 meters from the establishing to the automobile on the top of the day. Breaks my coronary coronary coronary heart realizing I pushed him too laborious, not realizing he was not correctly. 💔
Anyway! He’s so masses larger now, and I’m so grateful.
And the correct reward for all that highly effective work I put into the cookbook? That he’s correct proper right here with me to have a good time the launch subsequent month.
I’ve the correct canine on the planet. – Nagi x
Our new cookbook TONIGHT is now accessible for pre-order so that you just most likely can safe a copy and get it immediately when it releases in October! It’s not all Dozer. There’s a recipe or two in there as correctly. 😉
