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Close-up of homemade dirty spaghetti in a white bowl made with ground beef, spaghetti, and bell peppers, served as a cozy one-pot Cajun pasta meal in a warm kitchen setting.

Dirty Spaghetti Recipe

A flavorful, one-pot Cajun twist on a classic pasta dish! This Dirty Spaghetti combines browned ground beef with the “holy trinity” of aromatic vegetables and bold Cajun spices. By cooking the pasta directly in the pot, you create a rich, thickened sauce that clings to every strand.

  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 6 servings 1x

Ingredients

Scale

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 pound 80% lean ground beef

1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning, divided

1 medium white or yellow onion, chopped (about 2 cups)

2 medium green or red bell peppers, finely chopped

6 cloves garlic, minced

12 ounces spaghetti

5 cups water

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Salt, to taste

Optional: Sliced green onions, chopped parsley, or hot sauce

Instructions

1. Heat olive oil in a 4 to 6-quart Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook until browned and crumbly (6-8 minutes). Stir in 1 teaspoon of Cajun seasoning and cook for 30 seconds.

2. Add the chopped onion, bell peppers, and garlic. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened and translucent (about 4 minutes).

3. Add the spaghetti and water to the pot, ensuring the pasta is fully submerged. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat.

4. Once boiling, remove the lid. Cook, stirring often to prevent sticking, until the pasta is al dente and the liquid has thickened into a sauce (7-8 minutes).

5. Stir in the black pepper and the remaining 1 tablespoon of Cajun seasoning.

6. Remove from heat, taste for salt, and garnish with green onions, parsley, or hot sauce before serving.

Notes

For the best flavor, use a high-quality Cajun seasoning. If yours is salt-free, you will need to add more salt to the final dish.

Don’t walk away while the pasta is boiling; stirring is key to releasing the starches that thicken the ‘dirty’ sauce.

Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days. When reheating, add a splash of water to loosen the sauce back up.

If you prefer more heat, swap one of the bell peppers for a poblano or add a dash of cayenne.

  • Author: Angelina
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: One-Pot
  • Cuisine: Cajun/American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1/6 of pot
  • Calories: 360
  • Sugar: 4g
  • Sodium: 580mg
  • Fat: 16g
  • Saturated Fat: 6g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 8g
  • Trans Fat: 0.5g
  • Carbohydrates: 29g
  • Fiber: 2g
  • Protein: 25g
  • Cholesterol: 55mg

Keywords: dirty spaghetti, one pot pasta, cajun ground beef pasta, easy weeknight dinner, ground beef spaghetti