Cajun Cream Cheese Alfredo Bowties (Printable)

Creamy Cajun-spiced Alfredo pasta with tender seasoned beef for a hearty, comforting meal.

# What You'll 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 - Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Cook bowtie pasta until al dente per package directions. Drain, reserving ½ cup pasta water. Set aside.
02 - Combine beef strips with olive oil, smoked paprika, Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper in a medium bowl. Toss until evenly coated.
03 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add seasoned beef strips and cook 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned and cooked through. Remove from skillet and set aside, loosely covered.
04 - Reduce skillet heat to medium. Add butter and minced garlic. Sauté 1 minute until fragrant.
05 - Pour in heavy cream and add cream cheese cubes. Stir continuously until cream cheese melts completely and sauce becomes smooth.
06 - Stir in Parmesan cheese, Cajun seasoning, and red pepper flakes if using. Simmer 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently, until sauce thickens. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
07 - Add drained pasta to the sauce, tossing thoroughly to coat. If sauce is too thick, gradually add reserved pasta water until desired consistency is achieved.
08 - Top pasta with cooked spiced beef. Toss gently to combine or leave beef arranged on top as a garnish.
09 - Sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley and additional Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately while hot.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The way spicy beef and creamy sauce dance together will make you wonder why you ever ate plain pasta again
  • It comes together in under an hour but tastes like something from a restaurant that takes reservations
  • The leftovers reheat beautifully and somehow taste even better the next day
02 -
  • If the sauce breaks and looks grainy, whisk in a tiny splash of cold cream and it should come back together beautifully
  • Don't skip the pasta water, it's what turns a good sauce into a great one that actually sticks to the noodles
03 -
  • Room temperature cream cheese melts into the sauce so much faster, so take it out of the fridge when you start prepping
  • Grate your own Parmesan from a block instead of buying pre-grated, the anti-caking agents in the pre-grated stuff can make the sauce grainy

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