Dirty Spaghetti

Name: Dirty Spaghetti with Ground Beef (Cajun-Style)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Cajun-inspired
Ingredients: 1/2 large yellow onion, diced; 1/2 red bell pepper, diced; 1/2 green bell pepper, diced; 2 tbsp olive oil; 1 lb ground beef; 2 tbsp cajun seasoning, or to taste; 2 tsp all-purpose flour; 1 tsp garlic powder; 1 tsp onion powder; 1 tsp dried parsley; 1 tsp dried oregano; 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes; 1 tsp dried thyme; 2 tbsp minced garlic; 1 lb spaghetti; 1/2 cup reserved pasta water; 1 tbsp dried parsley, for garnish

Dirty Spaghetti is a Cajun-inspired pasta dish that combines seasoned ground beef with a trinity of bell peppers and onions in a rich, flour-thickened sauce. This recipe skips tomato for a savory, spicy depth that coats the noodles.

🌍Cajun-inspired 🏷️Dirty spaghetti 🏷️Spaghetti 🏷️Pasta 🏷️Ground beef Cajun

🏷️

🏷️Southern

-0:00

gellecomeauxonTikTok

Total

30 min

Servings

4

Difficulty

Easy

Est. Cost

$31–$51

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From TikTok · by gellecomeaux

-0:00

gellecomeauxonTikTok

Ingredients

1/2 large yellow onion, diced
1/2 red bell pepper, diced
1/2 green bell pepper, diced
2 tbsp olive oil
1 lb ground beef
2 tbsp cajun seasoning, or to taste
2 tsp all-purpose flour
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp dried parsley
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
1 tsp dried thyme
2 tbsp minced garlic
1 lb spaghetti
1/2 cup reserved pasta water
1 tbsp dried parsley, for garnishoptional

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Instructions

1
Dice the yellow onion, red bell pepper, and green bell pepper.
2
In a large skillet or Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it apart, until it begins to brown.
3
Season the beef with Cajun seasoning and continue to cook until no longer pink.
4
Sprinkle the flour over the cooked beef, stir well, and cook for about one minute.
5
Add the diced onions and bell peppers to the skillet.
6
Add the garlic powder, onion powder, dried parsley, dried oregano, red pepper flakes, and dried thyme. Stir to combine and sauté until the vegetables are softened.
7
Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
8
Meanwhile, cook spaghetti according to package directions. Before draining, reserve about 1/2 cup of the pasta water.
9
Pour the reserved pasta water into the meat and vegetable mixture to create a sauce.
10
Add the cooked and drained spaghetti to the skillet.
11
Toss everything together until the pasta is thoroughly coated in the sauce.
12
Garnish with additional dried parsley and serve immediately.

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Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Brown the ground beef thoroughly and break it into small pieces for even seasoning distribution and better sauce cling.
Bloom the Cajun seasoning in the hot oil and beef fat for 1–2 minutes before adding the trinity to deepen spice flavor.
Sprinkle flour over the cooked beef and vegetables, stir well, and cook for 1 minute to remove raw flour taste before serving.
Taste and adjust seasoning at the end; Cajun blends vary in salt and heat, so layer flavors rather than adding all at once.

Substitutions

Olive oil → vegetable oil or butter (note: butter adds richness)
Cajun seasoning → homemade blend of paprika, cayenne, garlic powder, onion powder, and dried oregano
All-purpose flour → cornstarch (use slightly less; adds different texture)
Dried parsley → fresh parsley added at finish (for brighter flavor)

Storage & make-ahead

Store cooled sauce in an airtight container up to 3 days; reheat gently on stovetop with a splash of water if needed. Cook pasta fresh before serving.

Common Questions

What makes this spaghetti 'dirty'?

The earthy Cajun seasonings, ground beef, and flour-thickened sauce create a rich, deeply savory coating rather than a bright tomato base—giving it the 'dirty' name.