Cajun Spaghetti

Cajun Spaghetti

This homage to my Grandpa uses the Holy Trinity and Cajun seasoning to add some flair to normal spaghetti and meat sauce. Don't worry, it isn't spicy! Unless you want it to be.

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Total Time 55 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine Cajun, Italian

Servings 6 People

Equipment

• Normal Kitchen Utensils

Ingredients

  

• 1 Lb Spaghetti
• 1 Lb Ground Beef
• 1 Large Green Bell Pepper
• 1/2 Medium Onion White or Yellow
• 3 Ribs Celery
• 1 Can Tomato Sauce 29 Oz.
• 1/2 C Parmesan Cheese Finely Grated
• 3 Tbsp Olive Oil
• 6-8 Cloves Garlic Or 1 tsp Garlic Powder
• 1 tsp Cayenne Powder Plus More to Taste
• 1 tsp Ground Black Pepper
• 1 tsp Dried Oregano
• Salt to Taste

Instructions

 

• Dice the onion, celery and green bell pepper. These three vegetables are called the Holy Trinity in Cajun cooking.
  1 Large Green Bell Pepper, 3 Ribs Celery, 1/2 Medium Onion
• In a large pot, sauté the Holy Trinity in the 3 Tbsp olive oil for about ten minutes, at medium-high heat, until soft. Add about 1/2 tsp salt to help draw out moisture.
  3 Tbsp Olive Oil, Salt to Taste
• Mince and add the garlic to the pot. Cook another few minutes.
  6-8 Cloves Garlic
• Add the ground beef, oregano and another 1/2 tsp salt to the vegetables. Cook about ten minutes, until the meat is browned, breaking it up as it cooks.
  1 Lb Ground Beef, 1 tsp Dried Oregano
• Add the tomato sauce, cayenne powder and black pepper. Cover and simmer over medium heat for at least 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  1 Can Tomato Sauce, 1 tsp Cayenne Powder, 1 tsp Ground Black Pepper
• While the sauce simmers, boil water in another pot for the pasta. Once boiling, cook the pasta per the box/bag directions. Be sure to salt the water.
  1 Lb Spaghetti
• Drain the pasta once cooked.
• Add additional cayenne and salt, to taste, to the sauce.
• Feel free to mix the pasta with the sauce, but we always serve it family style. Let everyone scoop pasta onto their plate and cover it with sauce. Top with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese and add a side of garlic bread.
  1/2 C Parmesan Cheese

Notes

It should be noted that Cajun food does not have to be spicy. Just flavorful. The same goes with salt level. Add only as much as you need to bring out the flavor of the food. And know that cayenne has an additive heat with a nice, slow burn. Add enough to enjoy the flavor, but be careful about playing too close to the fire. 

Keyword Cajun, Holy, Meat, Pasta, Sauce, Spaghetti, Trinity

My Grandpa’s Cajun Spaghetti: A Family Favorite with Heart

If you’ve just finished making this Cajun spaghetti recipe, I hope your kitchen smells amazing and your bowl is full. This dish is more than a spicy pasta—it’s a piece of my family’s story. My Grandpa made it for just about every major holiday or family gathering. It was one of his “big three” recipes, alongside gumbo and rice dressing (which you may know as dirty rice). No matter the occasion, one of those three dishes was always on the table—and often, it was this one.

Cooking was never a chore for my grandpa. It was a full-on labor of love. I can still picture him carefully chopping each vegetable, one at a time, with a knife just barely larger than a pocket knife. He never rushed. His pace said, “This matters.” And it did. Every ingredient, every slice, and every stir made the food taste better.

The Holy Trinity of Cajun Cooking

Like many authentic Cajun dishes, this spaghetti starts with the holy trinity: onion, green bell pepper, and celery. This trio forms the flavorful base for countless recipes across Louisiana. It’s similar to mirepoix in French cooking, but with that unmistakable Cajun twist.

For this sauce, I also include garlic, tomato sauce, and ground beef to round it out. The beef gives the dish that classic comfort-food vibe, while still letting the spices and peppers shine. It’s rich, bold, and perfect for anyone who likes their pasta with a little more personality.

We always serve this dish family-style. Cook the noodles separately, then bring them to the table to let everyone serve their own pasta and sauce. It’s a great way to make dinner feel warm, casual, and a little bit communal.

Want to Try Other Twists on Spaghetti?

If this Cajun spaghetti recipe hit the spot, you might enjoy some of my other spins on spaghetti. One that is surprisingly delicious is my copycat of Sheldon’s Spaghetti—the simple, comforting pasta Sheldon eats on The Big Bang Theory. On the other end of the flavor spectrum, I’ve been getting a lot of requests for Espagueti Verde, a Mexican-style green spaghetti made with poblano peppers, cilantro, and crema. It’s creamy, tangy, and unlike any spaghetti you’ve had before.

From My Family Table to Yours

I hope this recipe becomes a new favorite in your kitchen, the way it has always been in mine. Whether you’re making it for a holiday, a weeknight dinner, or just because—this Cajun spaghetti recipe brings people together. And that’s what good food is all about.

Miss you, Grandpa.

_{Some content generated with the help of ChatGPT | OpenAI: https://www.openai.com/}