Name: One Pot Cajun Beef Pasta with lots-of-veg
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 7
Ingredients: One-pot pasta:; 1 tbsp olive oil; 2 garlic cloves , finely minced; 1 onion , chopped; 500g/ 1 lb beef mince (ground beef) (Note 1); 1 carrot , medium, shredded using box grater (I keep skin on); 1 zucchini , medium, shredded using box grater (Note 2); 1 red capsicum (bell pepper), chopped (Note 2); 2 tbsp tomato paste; 800g/ 28 oz canned crushed tomato; 400g/ 14 oz kidney beans , drained (or other beans of choice, can omit); 2 cups chicken stock/broth , low sodium (sub beef stock); 2 cups water (just regular tap water!); 350g / 12 oz (3 cups) elbow pasta (macaroni) , spirals, penne, ziti, small shells, rigatoni or similar size, uncooked (Note 3); 1 1/2 cups (tightly packed) colby cheese or other melting cheese of choice, preferably freshly shredded (melts better); 1 green onion stem , finely sliced (optional garnish); Cajun spices:; 1 1/2 tsp dried thyme; 1 1/2 tbsp paprika (sweet/regular, not smoked or spicy); 2 tsp garlic powder; 2 tsp onion powder; 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper , optional (faintly spicy); 1/4 tsp black pepper; 1 1/4 tsp cooking salt / kosher salt

1. Protein – This recipe works best with beef, I feel. Chicken and turkey gets a little dry for my taste, though you could use them (I’d increase the spices a bit, same for pork). I think lamb and cajun spices in a pasta is a little odd? But I could be wrong!

A reader also made this with kangaroo and reported delicious results!

2. Vegetables – You can switch the carrot, zucchini capsicum for other vegetables, just chop them in a way that makes sense. A huge handful of baby spinach stirred in just before topping with cheese comes to mind. I like shredding the carrot and zucchini because it disappears.

3. Pasta – the 3 cup measure for 350g/12 oz is for elbow pasta/macaroni only. The cup quantity for other pasta shapes will differ.

Leftovers –So delicious! Keeps better than many pastas because it’s so nice and saucy so it doesn’t get too stodgy and dry. Fridge 4 days, freezer 3 months!Making ahead –If making the whole dish ahead intentionally, stop after step 6, take it off the stove and let it cool (you could even transfer into an ovenproof dish at this stage). Sprinkle with cheese then fridge or freeze!

Nutrition per serving assuming 8 servings.

One Pot Cajun Beef Pasta with lots-of-veg

Ingredients

One-pot Pasta

Cajun Spices

Steps

Notes

Nutrition Facts