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One Pot Cajun Beef Pasta with lots-of-veg

One Pot Cajun Beef Pasta: Easy Recipe Loaded with Veggies

One Pot Cajun Beef Pasta with lots-of-veg is a big bubbly beefy meal in a Cajun flavored sauce.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Main, One Pot Meals
Cuisine Western
Servings 8 servings
Calories 507 kcal

Equipment

  • large heavy based pot with a lid

Ingredients
  

One-pot pasta

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic finely minced
  • 1 onion chopped
  • 500 g beef mince (ground beef) (Note 1)
  • 1 carrot medium, shredded using box grater
  • 1 zucchini medium, shredded using box grater
  • 1 red capsicum (bell pepper) chopped
  • 2 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 800 g canned crushed tomato
  • 400 g kidney beans drained
  • 2 cups chicken stock/broth low sodium
  • 2 cups water just regular tap water!
  • 350 g elbow pasta uncooked (Note 3)
  • 1.5 cups colby cheese or other melting cheese, preferably freshly shredded
  • 1 green onion stem finely sliced, optional garnish

Cajun spices

  • 1.5 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1.5 tablespoon paprika sweet/regular, not smoked or spicy
  • 2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 0.5 teaspoon cayenne pepper optional
  • 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1.25 teaspoon cooking salt / kosher salt

Instructions
 

Instructions

  • Heat the oil in a large heavy based pot with a lid over high heat.
  • Cook the onion and garlic for 2 minutes. Add the beef and cook, breaking it up as you go, until you no longer see red meat. Add the carrot and zucchini, cook for 2 minutes until the water they release mostly evaporates. Add the capsicum and cook for 2 minutes.
  • Add the tomato paste and Cajun Spices. Cook for 1 minute.
  • Add the canned tomato, water, stock and beans. Mix and bring to a simmer.
  • Add the pasta, stir, let it come back up to the simmer. Put the lid on and lower the heat slightly to medium so the liquid is simmering.
  • Cook for 15 minutes, stirring every few minutes so the base doesn't catch. The pasta should be a bit firmer than you want in the middle, and still a bit soupy which is good. Liquid gets absorbed in the next step.
  • Give it a stir, smooth the surface, sprinkle with cheese. Put the lid on then turn the stove off and leave the pot on the stove. Leave for 3 minutes so the residual heat melts the cheese and the pasta finishes cooking.
  • Remove from the stove, sprinkle with green onion if desired, then serve immediately while saucy and the cheese is gooey!

Notes

This recipe works best with beef; chicken and turkey can get a little dry. Leftovers keep well in the fridge for 4 days or in the freezer for 3 months.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 507kcalCarbohydrates: 59gProtein: 34gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 67mgSodium: 995mgPotassium: 1091mgFiber: 9gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 3063IUVitamin C: 36mgCalcium: 292mgIron: 6mg
Keyword beef pasta, cajun beef pasta, cajun pasta, One Pot Pasta
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