Ingredients You’ll Need

For the Main Dish:

1 lb cheese tortellini (fresh or frozen)

1 lb ground beef

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 small onion, finely chopped

1 tablespoon olive oil

For the Cajun Stroganoff Sauce:

1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning

1 teaspoon smoked paprika

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1 cup beef broth

1 cup heavy cream

1/2 cup sour cream

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions

Preparation Step 1: Cook the Tortellini

Start by boiling a large pot of salted water and cooking the tortellini according to the package instructions. Fresh tortellini usually takes about 3–4 minutes; frozen may take 7–8. Once cooked, drain and set aside. Don’t forget to reserve about ½ cup of the pasta water you might need it to thin the sauce later.

Step 2: Brown the Beef

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add olive oil and let it warm up. Add the ground beef and break it apart with a spatula or wooden spoon. Cook until it’s browned all over and fully cooked through, about 6–8 minutes. Drain off any excess fat.

Step 3: Sauté the Aromatics

To the same skillet with the beef, add your chopped onion and minced garlic. Sauté everything together for 2–3 minutes until the onions become soft and translucent, and the garlic is fragrant.

Step 4: Season the Beef

Now it’s time to build the flavor. Sprinkle in the Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Stir well so the spices coat the beef evenly. Let it all cook for another minute so the spices bloom.

Step 5: Build the Sauce

Pour in the beef broth and let the mixture simmer gently for about 3–4 minutes. This helps the flavors concentrate a bit and thickens the base of your sauce.

Step 6: Make It Creamy

Reduce the heat to medium and pour in the heavy cream and sour cream, stirring everything together until the sauce becomes silky and smooth. This is where the dish truly turns into a stroganoff-style comfort bomb. Let it simmer for 2–3 minutes, giving the sauce time to come together without boiling it too hard.

Step 7: Add the Pasta and Cheese

Once the sauce is creamy and lightly thickened, gently fold in the cooked tortellini. Toss everything together to coat the pasta in that luscious Cajun beef sauce. If it’s too thick, add a splash or two of the reserved pasta water.

Now, stir in the grated Parmesan cheese. As it melts, it’ll make the sauce even more velvety and rich.

Step 8: Serve and Garnish

Taste and adjust salt or seasoning if needed. Once everything is well-combined, transfer to bowls and top with a generous sprinkle of chopped fresh parsley. Serve warm and enjoy every bite of creamy, cheesy, spicy goodness.

Nutrition

Calories: 650
Sodium: 720
Protein: 32