Dirty Spaghetti

Name: Dirty Spaghetti with Cajun Meat Sauce
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Cajun
Ingredients: 1 lb ground beef; 1 lb mild pork sausage; 2 tbsp Cajun seasoning, divided; 1 large yellow onion, diced; 1 bell pepper, diced; 2 celery stalks, diced; 1 tbsp minced garlic; 2 tbsp tomato paste; 1/2 tbsp garlic and herb seasoning; 2 dashes Worcestershire sauce; 2 tbsp all-purpose flour; 2 cups beef broth; 1 (6 oz) can mushroom steak sauce; salt, to taste; black pepper, to taste; 1/2 cup green onions, sliced; 1 lb spaghetti, cooked

Dirty Spaghetti is a savory Louisiana pasta dish coated in a rich meat sauce made from ground beef, pork sausage, and the Cajun trinity of onion, bell pepper, and celery. Bold Cajun seasoning and Worcestershire give it authentic Deep South flavor.

🌍Cajun 🏷️Dirty spaghetti 🏷️Spaghetti 🏷️Pasta 🏷️Louisiana Comfort food

🏷️

-0:00

britscookinonTikTok

Total

35 min

Servings

4

Difficulty

Easy

Est. Cost

$31–$51

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From TikTok · by britscookin

-0:00

britscookinonTikTok

Ingredients

1 lb ground beef
1 lb mild pork sausage
2 tbsp Cajun seasoning, divided
1 large yellow onion, diced
1 bell pepper, diced
2 celery stalks, diced
1 tbsp minced garlic
2 tbsp tomato paste
1/2 tbsp garlic and herb seasoning
2 dashes Worcestershire sauce
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
2 cups beef broth
1 (6 oz) can mushroom steak sauce
salt, to taste
black pepper, to taste
1/2 cup green onions, sliced
1 lb spaghetti, cooked

17 Ingredients

Delivery in as fast as one hour.^*

Powered by Instacart

Prices vary by store

^*Service fees apply. Instacart^® and the Instacart logo are registered trademarks of Maplebear Inc. d/b/a Instacart.

Instructions

1
In a large Dutch oven or pot over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef and mild pork sausage, breaking it up as it cooks.
2
Season the meat with about half of the Cajun seasoning.
3
Drain any excess grease if necessary. Add the diced onion, bell pepper, and celery (the trinity) to the pot. Sauté for 5-7 minutes, until the vegetables have softened.
4
Stir in the minced garlic and cook for about one minute until fragrant.
5
Add the tomato paste, stir it into the meat and vegetable mixture, and let it cook for 2-3 minutes to deepen the flavor.
6
Season the mixture again with the remaining Cajun seasoning, garlic and herb seasoning, and a couple of dashes of Worcestershire sauce. Stir well to combine.
7
Sprinkle the all-purpose flour over the mixture and stir continuously for about one minute to cook out the raw flour taste.
8
Slowly pour in the beef broth while stirring to prevent lumps and create a smooth sauce.
9
Bring the sauce to a simmer. Stir in the can of mushroom steak sauce, then season with salt and pepper to taste.
10
Let the sauce simmer for a few minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
11
Stir in the sliced fresh green onions.
12
Add the cooked spaghetti to the pot with the sauce. Use tongs to toss everything together until the pasta is fully coated.
13
Serve immediately.

Was this recipe helpful?

Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Brown the ground beef and sausage separately to ensure even cooking and better texture control — don't rush the browning step.
Toast the tomato paste in the fat after browning the meat for 1–2 minutes before adding liquid to deepen its savory flavor.
Dice the Cajun trinity (onion, bell pepper, celery) evenly so they cook at the same rate and distribute evenly throughout the sauce.
Taste and adjust salt at the end; the Cajun seasoning and Worcestershire are already salty, so go easy with extra salt.

Substitutions

Mild pork sausage → hot/spicy sausage (reduce Cajun seasoning by half to avoid overpowering heat)
Cajun seasoning → homemade blend of paprika, cayenne, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, and oregano in equal parts
Worcestershire sauce → soy sauce or tamari (shifts flavor away from traditional Louisiana style)

Storage & make-ahead

Store the meat sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat gently over medium-low heat before serving over fresh pasta.

Common Questions

Can I use mild or spicy sausage?

The recipe calls for mild pork sausage. You can substitute hot sausage for more heat, but reduce added Cajun seasoning slightly to avoid overseasoning.

How do I know when the sauce is done?

Simmer until the sauce thickens and the flavors meld, roughly 20–30 minutes. The meat should be fully browned and no raw onion flavor should remain.

Can I make this ahead?

Yes. Prepare the meat sauce up to 2 days ahead, refrigerate in an airtight container, and reheat gently over medium-low heat. Cook pasta fresh before serving.

What can I substitute for Worcestershire sauce?

Use soy sauce or tamari in equal measure for umami depth, though the flavor profile will shift slightly away from traditional Louisiana style.

Can I freeze this?

Freeze the meat sauce alone (not with cooked pasta) in portions for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat before tossing with fresh pasta.