Cajun Spaghetti
Hearty Cajun Spaghetti Made with Ground Beef, Tomatoes, and Cajun Seasoning
If you’re looking for an easy, hearty dinner that brings a little Southern-inspired flavor to your table, this Cajun Spaghetti is the perfect recipe to try. Made with seasoned ground beef, tomato basil sauce, and diced tomatoes with green chiles, it also has Better Than Bouillon beef base and a blend of savory spices. This pasta is rich, comforting, and packed with flavor. Everything simmers together to create a thick and delicious sauce tossed with thin spaghetti. This makes it the kind of satisfying meal that everyone will happily gather around the table for. Best of all, it reheats beautifully, so don’t be surprised if you find yourself looking forward to the leftovers even more the next day.
I’ve been seeing Cajun Spaghetti all over the internet lately, and since it seems to be having a bit of a viral moment, I decided I had to try making my own version. I’ve never been the biggest fan of Cajun food, mostly because so many of the dishes feature cooked seafood. This just isn’t something I eat very often. Lately, though, I’ve been branching out and experimenting with more recipes that use Cajun-inspired flavors.
I realized those bold seasonings pair perfectly with a hearty pasta dinner. While I’m not claiming this is an authentic Cajun recipe, it does include many of the classic ingredients and flavors associated with Cajun cooking. Tossed with spaghetti, it turned into a rich, comforting meal that we absolutely loved, and I think it’s one you’ll want to add to your weeknight dinner rotation too.
Why You’ll Love This Cajun Spaghetti
There are so many reasons to love this Cajun Spaghetti recipe. It comes together with simple, affordable pantry staples. This is hearty enough to feed a hungry family looking for bold, comforting flavor that isn’t overly spicy. The rich tomato sauce, savory ground beef, and Cajun-inspired seasonings create a pasta dinner that’s satisfying enough for a cozy weekend meal but easy enough for a busy weeknight. It also reheats beautifully, which makes it perfect for meal prep or enjoying leftovers the next day. Many people even think it tastes better after the flavors have had time to meld overnight.
What Is the Holy Trinity in Cajun Cooking?
One of the foundations of Cajun and Creole cooking is what’s known as the Holy Trinity. This is a simple combination of onion, green bell pepper, and celery. Similar to the French mirepoix made with onion, carrots, and celery, Louisiana cooks adapted the mixture by swapping the carrots for green bell peppers. This creates the flavor base found in countless gumbos, jambalayas, étouffées, and other classic dishes.
For my version of Cajun Spaghetti, I made one small change. While I love the subtle flavor celery brings to a dish, I’m not a fan of biting into pieces of cooked celery with pasta. I used celery seed instead. It gives the sauce that familiar savory flavor while letting the onions and green peppers provide all of the texture. It’s a simple swap that worked perfectly for this recipe while still paying homage to one of the most recognizable building blocks of Cajun cooking.
Easy Protein Swaps for Cajun Spaghetti
I chose to make my Cajun Spaghetti with ground beef because I love the rich, hearty flavor it gives the sauce. This recipe is incredibly versatile. Ground chicken or ground turkey would both be delicious substitutes if you’re looking for a lighter option. They’ll soak up all of the Cajun-inspired seasonings just as well. You could even use spicy Italian sausage or a combination of beef and sausage if you want an even bolder flavor. No matter which protein you choose, the end result is a comforting, satisfying pasta dinner that’s perfect for busy weeknights.
If You Are Looking To Skip The Pasta
If you’re in the mood for something a little different, you can easily skip the spaghetti and turn this into a hearty, Cajun-inspired stew. I would stir in 2 to 3 cups of drained hominy during the last 10 to 15 minutes of cooking. Also add 2 to 3 tablespoons of tomato paste to give the broth a thicker, richer consistency. The hominy adds a wonderful chewy texture and soaks up all of the savory flavors. This makes it a comforting one-bowl meal that’s perfect with a piece of warm, buttered French bread or cornbread. It’s a fun way to transform the recipe into an entirely different dinner using many of the same ingredients.
Cajun Spaghetti Recipe
Cajun Spaghetti is a hearty, family-friendly pasta dinner made with seasoned ground beef, tomato basil sauce, diced tomatoes with green chiles, and a blend of savory Cajun-inspired spices. This easy weeknight recipe comes together with simple pantry ingredients and delivers rich, comforting flavor in every bite.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1 (24-ounce) jar tomato basil pasta sauce or any marinara you prefer
- 1 (10-ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chiles, undrained
- 1 cup water (use it to rinse the pasta sauce jar)
- 1 tablespoon Better Than Bouillon Beef Base
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning *or to taste ** the one I use is pictured and linked in post before recipe card
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon celery seed
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper *I used a dash of white pepper
- Salt, to taste *reminder the Cajun seasoning may have salt
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce (optional, but recommended)
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 (16-ounce) box thin spaghetti
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, for serving *optional
- Chopped parsley or sliced green onions, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the thin spaghetti until al dente according to the package directions. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water, then drain.
- While the pasta cooks, brown the ground beef in a large Dutch oven or deep skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it into crumbles. Drain any excess grease.
- Add the diced onion and bell peppers and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, or until softened.
- Stir in the tomato basil pasta sauce, diced tomatoes with green chiles, and 1 cup of water. (Fill the empty pasta sauce jar with the water and shake well to get every bit of sauce before adding it to the pot.)
- Stir in the Better Than Bouillon beef base, garlic powder, onion powder, Cajun seasoning, paprika, celery seed, black pepper, Worcestershire sauce, if using, and the butter.
- Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer. Reduce the heat to low and cook uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce has thickened slightly and the flavors have come together.
- Add the cooked spaghetti directly to the sauce and toss until evenly coated. If needed, stir in a splash of the reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce.
- Serve with plenty of freshly grated Parmesan cheese and garnish with chopped parsley or sliced green onions if desired.
Tipsy Housewife Tip: The leftovers are even better the next day. The pasta soaks up all of the rich, savory sauce, making this a perfect make-ahead meal for busy weeknights.