• Appetizers
  • Breakfast
  • Beverages
  • Condiments
    • Dressings Chutneys & Jams
    • Marinades & Rubs
    • Sauces & Pestos
  • Desserts
    • Cakes
    • Candy
    • Chocolate
    • Cookies/Bars
    • Crumbles/Crisps
    • Ice Cream/Frozen Treats
    • Pies/Tarts
    • Puddings/Custards
  • Entrees
    • Meat
      • Beef
      • Chicken/Poultry
      • Lamb
      • Pork
    • Seafood
    • Pasta
    • Grains
    • Sandwiches, Tacos & Pizzas
    • Soups, Stews & Braises
  • Salads
  • Sides
  • Vegan/Vegetarian
  • About
    • Work With Me
    • Contact
    • Press
    • Disclaimers

Garlic & Zest

Gourmet Cooking at Home!

Cajun Meatballs and Pasta

Cajun Meatballs and Pasta
754 Shares
Share
Pin
Yum
Tweet
Share
Share
Email
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

I did an inventory of recipes on the blog and it turns out that I don’t have a lot (read: hardly any) pasta dishes here.  I mean, yes there’s that lasagna, and that salad loaded with pepperoni and mozzarella, and several renditions of macaroni and cheese, but in the aggregate, my site is deficient in main course pasta.  There’s a reason for that.  Scott has requested — actually declared — that he doesn’t want to eat pasta.  He likes it, but feels like it undoes all his hard work at the gym.  I understand, but my craving for Cajun Meatballs and Pasta — overruled his directive!

 

Legion of Spice Bayou Black seasoningAnd I blame Sean Kolina.  He’s the co-owner of Legion of Spice, and he recently sent me a few jars of his spice blends for sampling. Bayou Black (which I used for this recipe) is a classic Cajun rub and seasoning with paprika, oregano and cayenne pepper — it has a distinctive N’awlins bite.   Black n’ Bluesy is more of a spicy cajun powder with a notable flavor of blue cheese (how did they do that?)
Making meatballs

These rubs would be great on chicken, seafood, potatoes, vegetables — really anything, but I had some ground pork that was defrosting in the fridge and suddenly I was jonesing for some meatballs.  Cajun spice meatballs.
forming meatballs

I was going to spiralize some “zoodles” to go with them,  per Scott’s edict,  but then — I thought of you, dear reader — and my shocking lack of pasta.  There was half a package of whole wheat farfalle in the pantry and well… one thing led to another…

You wouldn’t believe the blowback I got from Scott.  Emphatically shaking his head, rolling his eyes and letting a frustrated sigh escape his mouth,  “You made what?!!  I asked you, not to fix pasta!”  

Geez.  You’d have thought I was serving him calves brains.  So — I rationalized.   “It’s whole wheat pasta“.  “There’s lots of vegetables, too.   It’s healthy-ish.  And did I mention the meatballs?”  He was only slightly mollified.

frying meatballs

Of course, it was a different story when we actually sat down to dinner and those heavenly cajun aromas enveloped him.  The vegetables were crisp tender, the pasta, al dente and the lightly spiced cajun cream sauce brought it all together.  But it was the Cajun spiced meatballs that shone through… moist, flavorful and satisfying.   He claimed the leftovers for his lunch the next day.  Trust me, you want this.

 

sauteing vegetables with spices

Legion of Spice will be rolling out even more spice blends soon, but you can find Bayou Black and Black n’ Bluesy now on their website.  Be sure to mention that  you heard about them on Garlic + Zest!  Oh – and aside from having really delicious seasonings, Legion of Spice is committed to donating 10% of profits to helping feed the hungry – this is a company that cares about the community and is actively doing their part.  Find out more about their philanthropy here!  And let me know how you like the pasta!

 

Cajun Meatballs and Pasta in a panCajun Meatballs and Pasta in a dish Serving Cajun Meatballs and Pasta

 

Cajun Meatballs and Pasta | Garlic + Zest

Cajun Meatballs and Pasta

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cajun, meatballs, pasta
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 585 kcal

A homestyle favorite with cajun flair!

Print

Ingredients

For the meatballs

  • 1 pound ground pork
  • 1 small onion minced
  • 1 large clove garlic minced
  • 2 tablespoons parsley chopped
  • 1 tablespoon Legion of Spice Bayou Black Seasoning
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tablespoon canola oil

For the pasta

  • 1/2 pound cooked farfalle cooked one minute under al dente, I used whole wheat, orecchiette or other similarly sized pasta
  • 1 tablespoon canola oil
  • 1 red bell pepper thinly sliced
  • 1 yellow bell pepper thinly sliced
  • 1 zucchini sliced vertically and then crosswise into half moons
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons Legion of Spice Bayou Black Seasoning
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1/3 cup heavy cream
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 ripe tomato diced
  • 1/4 cup parsley chopped

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, combine the pork, onion, garlic, parsley, cajun seasoning and egg. Mix thoroughly with your hands. Measure out rounded tablespoons of pork mixture and roll into balls. Set aside.
  2. Heat a heavy skillet over medium high heat and add 1 tablespoon canola oil. Working in batches when oil is hot, add meatballs, cooking on all sides until browned and mostly cooked through -- can be a little pink inside because the meatballs will continue to cook later. Transfer meatballs to a plate and set aside.
  3. In a large skillet, heat tablespoon canola oil over medium high heat. Add the peppers and zucchini and saute for 1-2 minutes. Sprinkle with the cajun seasoning and cook an additional minute. Add the broth and bring it to a boil, cooking for an additional minute. Stir in the cream. Add the meatballs and pasta. Reduce heat to a simmer and place a tight fitting lid on the pan. Cook for an additional 1-2 minutes. Remove from heat and check for seasonings, adding salt and pepper if desired.
  4. To serve, sprinkle with fresh chopped tomato and parsley.
Nutrition Facts
Cajun Meatballs and Pasta
Amount Per Serving
Calories 585 Calories from Fat 360
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 40g 62%
Saturated Fat 14g 70%
Cholesterol 149mg 50%
Sodium 314mg 13%
Potassium 821mg 23%
Total Carbohydrates 28g 9%
Dietary Fiber 3g 12%
Sugars 4g
Protein 26g 52%
Vitamin A 43.6%
Vitamin C 145.2%
Calcium 8.4%
Iron 18.7%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

  Related Posts:

Sausage and Mushroom Ragout
Easy Crawfish Etouff?e | Garlic + Zest
Easy Crawfish Etouffee
Braised Lamb Shanks

This easy comfort food recipe is loaded with veg, tender pork meatballs and spiked with a cajun cream sauce! Get the recipe for Cajun Meatballs and Pasta here! #pasta #bowtiepasta #cajun #mardigrasrecipes #mardigras #pork #porkmeatballs #cajuncreamsauce #creamsauce #zucchini #peppers #tomatoes #comfortfood #comfortfooddinner #easydinnerrecipes

754 Shares
Share
Pin
Yum
Tweet
Share
Share
Email

Entrees// Meat// Pasta// Pork25 Comments

« Summer Strawberry Poppy Seed Salad
Absolut Melon Baller »

Comments

  1. Beth @ Binky's Culinary Carnival says

    May 26, 2016 at 1:18 PM

    It looks like your pasta to vege ratio is approximately 50/50. He shouldn’t have complained too badly! He’s about polar opposites of my husband who would eat pasta every night if I let him! 🙂

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      May 27, 2016 at 7:19 AM

      LOL! He complains because he knows he’ll EAT IT when I fix something like that. If it’s not there – he won’t! It’s a twisted logic.

      Reply
  2. unicornsinthekitchen says

    May 26, 2016 at 1:04 PM

    Love anything cajun! This recipe looks so easy, perfect for weeknights! I’ve never had cajun and pasta though, but now I’m convinced!

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      May 27, 2016 at 7:18 AM

      Thanks so much! Let me know how you like it!

      Reply
  3. Katherine Hackworthy says

    May 26, 2016 at 12:21 PM

    I can practically smell the heady spices from here! Such a great use of cajun spices 🙂

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      May 27, 2016 at 7:18 AM

      Those aromas really get your stomach growling!

      Reply
  4. Ksenia @ At the Immigrant's Table says

    May 26, 2016 at 11:43 AM

    Though I don’t eat meat, I could see this spice mix working in many other veggie variations. I love me anything spicy!

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      May 26, 2016 at 12:10 PM

      I hear you! We are spice fiends too!

      Reply
  5. poojanadkarni says

    May 26, 2016 at 10:29 AM

    Hi! Nice recipe, I would do the same with minced chicken, as I don’t eat beef, pork.

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      May 26, 2016 at 12:09 PM

      I’m sure that would work well too!

      Reply
  6. Nhi says

    May 25, 2016 at 10:58 PM

    YUM, these spices and meatballs look amazing!

    Reply
  7. itsswayam says

    May 25, 2016 at 12:43 PM

    YUM!! So good.. I love the veggies in this… trying this!

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      May 25, 2016 at 12:45 PM

      Glad you like it!

      Reply
  8. JOsie says

    May 25, 2016 at 12:08 PM

    This dish looks delish! I will be trying it.

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      May 25, 2016 at 12:09 PM

      Let me know how you like it!

      Reply
  9. yined says

    May 25, 2016 at 11:42 AM

    I think this could be a hit at my house. Love your writing style!

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      May 25, 2016 at 12:02 PM

      Thank you so much!

      Reply
  10. yourcooktoria says

    May 25, 2016 at 11:10 AM

    Love this recipe! I am cooking pasta very often, so I will give this a try! Pinned and Yummed!

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      May 25, 2016 at 12:02 PM

      I appreciate that!

      Reply
  11. efwalt says

    May 25, 2016 at 10:57 AM

    Yummmm I adore meatballs! Don’t get to eat them enough because the other half is veggie but this dish sounds great. I love the twist on a classic. I’ll give these a try next time I have some meat eaters over for dinner 🙂

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      May 25, 2016 at 12:02 PM

      We love meatballs too! Definitely get some carnivores for this one!

      Reply
  12. Lucy says

    May 25, 2016 at 10:36 AM

    I love cajun flavors! These meatballs look delicious. Too bad your husband was complaining about the pasta! With all those veggies in the mix it sounds pretty healthy to me! Can’t wait to try.

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      May 25, 2016 at 12:00 PM

      He complained until he tasted it, then he loved it!

      Reply
  13. Ali @ Home & Plate says

    May 25, 2016 at 10:15 AM

    What a colorful recipe filled with delicious veggies. I love the idea of a kick from the meatballs. This recipe is right up my alley!

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      May 25, 2016 at 11:59 AM

      Thanks, Ali – I’m glad you like it!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Meet Lisa

Calling all cooks! You don’t have to be a gourmet chef to get a delicious, healthy meal on the table! At Garlic & Zest, I’ll show you how to make hundreds of seasonal, fresh recipes and indulgent comfort foods with easy step-by-step instructions and photos to help you master the dish.

Let’s get cooking!

Ebook Signup

Recent Posts

  • Muffuletta Olive Salad
  • 1 Hot Buttered Rum Mix – 4 Hot Rum Drinks
  • Creamy Vegan Asparagus Soup
  • Mediterranean Khorasan Wheat Salad
  • Hazelnut Shortbread Cookies with Jam

Popular Posts

Southern Pecan Caramel SauceSouthern Pecan Caramel Sauce162K Total Shares
Warm Lemon Butter Lobster RollWarm Lemon Butter Lobster Roll57K Total Shares
Mashed Cauliflower with Roasted GarlicMashed Cauliflower with Roasted Garlic41K Total Shares
Grilled Herb-Crusted Lamb KebabsGrilled Herb-Crusted Lamb Kebabs28K Total Shares
Authentic Mexican ChalupasAuthentic Mexican Chalupas20K Total Shares
Creamy Lobster Bisque From ScratchCreamy Lobster Bisque From Scratch13K Total Shares
Creamy Scalloped Potatoes with ThymeCreamy Scalloped Potatoes with Thyme9K Total Shares
Asian Steamed BunsAsian Steamed Buns8K Total Shares
Red Bean and Sausage SoupRed Bean and Sausage Soup6K Total Shares
Black Bean DipBlack Bean Dip6K Total Shares
Amazon Affiliate:
Garlic & Zest is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Featured On

Amazon Affiliate: Garlic & Zest is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Work with me    Disclaimer

Copyright © 2019 GarlicAndZest - Designed by TailoredDesignsCo