Zesty Cajun Cream Cheese Alfredo Bowties (Printable)
Creamy Cajun Alfredo sauce coats tender bowties topped with spiced beef for a bold, comforting pasta dish.
# 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 Steps:
01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Cook bowtie pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain while reserving ½ cup pasta water. Set pasta 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 cover loosely to keep warm.
04 - Reduce skillet heat to medium. Add butter and minced garlic, sautéing 1 minute until fragrant.
05 - Pour in heavy cream and add cubed cream cheese. Stir continuously until cream cheese melts completely and sauce becomes smooth.
06 - Mix 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 skillet, tossing thoroughly to coat. If sauce appears too thick, incorporate reserved pasta water gradually until desired consistency is achieved.
08 - Arrange spiced beef over pasta or toss gently to combine. Finish with chopped parsley and additional Parmesan cheese.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The way the spicy beef cuts through that rich, creamy sauce creates this perfect balance that keeps you going back for bite after bite
- It comes together in under 45 minutes but tastes like something you'd order at a fancy restaurant on date night
02 -
- If your sauce breaks and looks grainy, whisk in a tiny splash of cold cream and it usually comes back together beautifully
- The sauce thickens quickly as it cools, so err on the side of slightly thinner when you're tossing the pasta
03 -
- Pat your beef completely dry before seasoning it, or it'll steam instead of getting that gorgeous sear
- Room temperature cream cheese melts so much faster than cold, so take it out while you're prepping everything else