Description
One Pot Creamy Cajun Meatball Pasta: Juicy meatballs and Cajun spices in a creamy sauce with pasta. Quick, comforting, crowd-pleasing dish.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (450g) ground beef (80/20 lean-to-fat ratio)
- 1/4 cup (25g) breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion, diced (about 1 cup)
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 4 cups (950ml) chicken broth
- 1 cup (240ml) heavy cream
- 12 ounces (340g) penne pasta (or your preferred short pasta)
- 1/2 cup (50g) grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 green onions, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Step 1: Make the Meatballs In a large bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, minced garlic, Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix gently with your hands until just combined, being careful not to overmix. Shape the mixture into 1-inch meatballs (you should get approximately 20-24 meatballs). Set them aside on a plate.
- Step 2: Sear the Meatballs Heat the olive oil in a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Working in batches if necessary, add the meatballs and brown on all sides, about 2-3 minutes per batch. They don’t need to be cooked through completely—they’ll finish cooking in the sauce. Transfer the browned meatballs to a clean plate and set aside.
- Step 3: Create the Flavor Base In the same pot, add the diced onion and bell pepper. Sauté until softened, about 4-5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant. Stir in the Cajun seasoning and tomato paste, cooking for another 1-2 minutes to bloom the spices and deepen the flavor.
- Step 4: Cook the Pasta Pour in the chicken broth, using a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Bring the mixture to a boil, then add the uncooked pasta and stir well. Return the browned meatballs to the pot, nestling them into the pasta. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is nearly al dente.
- Step 5: Finish the Dish Stir in the heavy cream and continue cooking uncovered for another 3-5 minutes until the pasta is tender and the sauce has thickened slightly. Remove from heat and stir in the Parmesan cheese until melted and incorporated. Let the One Pot Creamy Cajun Meatball Pasta rest for 5 minutes before serving—this allows the sauce to thicken to the perfect consistency. Sprinkle with chopped green onions for a fresh, colorful finish.
Notes
Fresh ingredients will always yield the best flavor results.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 900mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 150mg