Description
Creamy, bold, and irresistibly cheesy, this Cheesy Garlic Twisted Pasta with Cajun Ground Beef and Alfredo Velveeta is the ultimate comfort food. Twisted rotini pasta hugs every bit of savory Cajun-seasoned beef, wrapped in a smooth, velvety Alfredo-Velveeta sauce. With just 30 minutes from start to finish, it’s the perfect easy dinner for busy nights, packed with bold flavor and cozy vibes. Whether you’re searching for quick dinner ideas, easy recipes for weeknights, or a rich comfort food pasta, this dish hits the mark every time.
Ingredients
2 cups rotini pasta
1 pound ground beef (80/20 preferred)
1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
2 tablespoons butter
3 cloves garlic, minced
8 ounces Velveeta cheese, cubed
1 cup Alfredo sauce
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
1 tablespoon chopped parsley (optional)
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the rotini pasta until al dente, about 8–10 minutes. Drain and reserve ½ cup of the pasta water.
2. In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef until fully cooked. Drain excess fat if necessary.
3. Add Cajun seasoning to the cooked beef and stir well to evenly coat the meat.
4. Push the beef to one side of the skillet and melt butter on the other side. Add the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
5. Stir the beef and garlic together, then lower the heat. Add Velveeta cubes and stir until they begin to melt.
6. Pour in Alfredo sauce and continue stirring until the cheese is fully melted and the sauce is smooth and creamy.
7. Add the cooked rotini to the skillet and fold it into the sauce. If needed, use a splash of reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce.
8. Top with Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley before serving, if desired.
Notes
Use fresh garlic for deeper flavor—pre-minced just doesn’t compare.
Don’t skip salting your pasta water; it’s the only chance to season the noodles.
Add a bit of pasta water when reheating to restore the sauce’s creamy texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (approx 1.5 cups)
- Calories: 620
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 870mg
- Fat: 36g
- Saturated Fat: 16g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
Keywords: cheesy pasta, quick dinner, Cajun ground beef, Alfredo pasta, easy weeknight meals