Dirty Spaghetti Recipe (Viral TikTok Cajun Pasta)
A one-pot Cajun pasta where spaghetti cooks directly in seasoned beef broth and meat drippings with ground beef, andouille sausage, and bold Cajun spices. Better than the TikTok version.
Ingredients
Proteins
- 1 lb ground beef (80/20)
- 1 lb andouille sausage, sliced or crumbled (casings removed if using links)
The Trinity
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 2 bell peppers, diced (1 green, 1 red)
- 2 stalks celery, diced
- 4-6 cloves garlic, minced
Liquid
- 4 cups low-sodium beef broth
- 1 cup water
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
Pasta
- 1 lb (16 oz) spaghetti, broken in half
Seasoning
- 1-2 tsp Cajun seasoning (Tony Chachere's or Slap Ya Mama)
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
For Serving
- Sliced green onions
- Shredded cheddar or Colby Jack cheese
- Louisiana hot sauce
Instructions
- Heat a large deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and sausage. Cook 8 to 10 minutes, breaking up the meat, until deeply browned with fond on the bottom of the pan. Drain most of the fat, leaving about 2 tablespoons.
- Add the diced onion, bell peppers, and celery. Cook 5 to 7 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook 1 minute more.
- Add all dry seasonings directly to the pan. Stir to coat everything in the hot fat and cook 2 minutes to bloom the spices.
- Add the Worcestershire sauce and scrape up the browned bits from the bottom. Pour in the beef broth and water. Stir and bring to a simmer.
- Add the broken spaghetti, pressing it down to submerge in the liquid. Cover and cook over medium-low heat for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring every 3 minutes, until pasta is just barely al dente and most liquid is absorbed.
- Turn off the heat. Leave the lid on and rest for 5 minutes. Stir gently from the bottom before serving.
- Top with green onions, shredded cheese, and hot sauce.
Notes
Low-sodium broth: Not optional if you want to control the salt level. Between the sausage, the Cajun seasoning, and the Worcestershire sauce, there is already significant sodium in this dish.
Pasta doneness: Pull it when it still has a slight bite. The 5-minute rest finishes the cooking. Overcooked pasta cannot be fixed.
Storing leftovers: Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in a skillet with a splash of broth. Freezes well for up to 3 months.
Andouille substitute: Italian sausage (casings removed) or smoked sausage both work. The flavor will be milder without andouille.