Zesty Cajun Alfredo Bowties (Print)

Tender bowties in creamy Cajun Alfredo with seasoned beef for a bold, comforting meal ready in 45 minutes.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz bowtie (farfalle) pasta
02 - 1 Tbsp salt for pasta water

→ Spiced Beef

03 - 1 lb beef sirloin or flank steak, thinly sliced
04 - 1 Tbsp olive oil
05 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
06 - 1 tsp Cajun seasoning
07 - ½ tsp garlic powder
08 - ½ tsp onion powder
09 - ½ tsp salt
10 - ¼ tsp black pepper

→ Alfredo Sauce

11 - 2 Tbsp unsalted butter
12 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
13 - 1 cup heavy cream
14 - 6 oz cream cheese, softened and cubed
15 - 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
16 - 1-2 tsp Cajun seasoning to taste
17 - ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes optional
18 - Salt and black pepper to taste

→ Garnish

19 - 2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley
20 - Extra Parmesan cheese for serving

# How To Make It:

01 - Cook bowtie pasta in large pot of salted boiling water until al dente. Drain, reserving ½ cup pasta water. Set aside.
02 - Toss beef strips with olive oil, smoked paprika, Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper until well coated.
03 - Heat large skillet over medium-high heat. Add seasoned beef strips and cook 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned and cooked through. Remove and set aside covered.
04 - Reduce skillet heat to medium. Add butter and minced garlic. Sauté 1 minute until fragrant.
05 - Add heavy cream and cream cheese to skillet. Stir until cream cheese melts and sauce is smooth.
06 - Stir in Parmesan cheese, Cajun seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Simmer 2-3 minutes, stirring often, until thickened. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
07 - Add drained pasta to sauce, tossing to coat. Add reserved pasta water if needed for desired consistency.
08 - Top pasta with cooked spiced beef. Toss gently or leave beef on top as garnish. Sprinkle with parsley and extra Parmesan before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The Cajun cream sauce has this way of coating every single bowtie perfectly
  • That spiced beef on top makes each bite feel like a special occasion
02 -
  • Reserve that pasta water before draining it is liquid gold for adjusting sauce consistency
  • Do not overcook the beef or it will get tough once it hits that hot sauce
03 -
  • Grate your own Parmesan because the pre shredded stuff just does not melt the same way
  • Let the cream cheese sit on the counter for an hour so it incorporates smoothly

Go Back