Description
This delicious and creamy Cheesy Garlic Twisted Pasta features perfectly cooked rotini tossed with Cajun-spiced ground beef and a velvety Alfredo Velveeta cheese sauce. With a hint of garlic and parmesan topping, this quick and comforting dish is ready in just 30 minutes and serves four.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 oz rotini pasta
- Salt, to taste
Cajun Ground Beef
- 1 lb ground beef
- 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning (or to taste)
- Black pepper, to taste
Sauce
- 1 cup Velveeta cheese, cubed
- 1 1/2 cups Alfredo sauce
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Boil Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add rotini pasta and cook until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Drain the pasta and reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water for later use.
- Sauté Garlic: In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant but not browned.
- Cook Ground Beef: Add the ground beef to the skillet and cook until browned and fully cooked through, breaking it up with a spatula as it cooks.
- Season Beef: Stir in the Cajun seasoning thoroughly to coat the beef evenly. Season with black pepper to taste.
- Create Sauce: Reduce the heat to low. Add the Alfredo sauce and Velveeta cheese cubes to the skillet. Stir continuously until the Velveeta cheese melts completely, forming a smooth, creamy sauce.
- Adjust Sauce Consistency: If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water to loosen it to your desired consistency.
- Toss Pasta: Add the cooked rotini pasta into the sauce. Gently toss to coat each piece evenly. Allow it to simmer for 2-3 minutes so the flavors meld together.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from heat. Top with grated parmesan cheese and, if desired, sprinkle chopped parsley before serving hot.
Notes
- Make sure to reserve some pasta water to help adjust the sauce consistency.
- You can adjust Cajun seasoning quantity based on your spice preference.
- Use fresh garlic for best flavor in the sauce.
- Optional chopped parsley adds a fresh touch and color contrast.
- For a lighter version, substitute Velveeta with reduced-fat cheese and Alfredo sauce with a lighter cream sauce.
