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Creamy Cajun Sausage Pasta

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This creamy Cajun sausage pasta is a quick, one-pot dinner loaded with smoky sausage, bold Cajun spices, and a velvety sauce. Perfect for busy nights, it comes together in under 30 minutes and is always a crowd-pleaser.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 oz smoked sausage (Andouille or kielbasa), sliced into 1/2-inch rounds
  • 8 oz pasta (penne, rigatoni, or rotini)
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 large bell pepper, diced (red or yellow)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tbsp Cajun seasoning
  • 1 (14 oz) can crushed tomatoes
  • 2 cups chicken broth (low-sodium preferred)
  • 3/4 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • Fresh parsley, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  1. Slice the smoked sausage into 1/2-inch rounds. Dice the bell pepper and onion. Mince the garlic.
  2. Heat olive oil in a large deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and cook for 3–5 minutes until browned and crispy. Remove sausage and set aside.
  3. In the same pot, add diced onion and bell pepper. Cook for 3–4 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute.
  4. Sprinkle in Cajun seasoning and toast for 30 seconds, stirring to coat the veggies.
  5. Add crushed tomatoes and chicken broth, stirring to combine and scraping up any browned bits.
  6. Stir in uncooked pasta and return sausage to the pot. Ensure pasta is mostly submerged.
  7. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and cook for 12–14 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is al dente and most liquid is absorbed.
  8. Stir in heavy cream and Parmesan cheese. Cook for 2–3 minutes until sauce is creamy and coats the pasta. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.
  9. Garnish with chopped parsley and extra Parmesan or chili flakes if desired. Serve hot.

Notes

For a lighter version, use turkey or chicken sausage and substitute half-and-half for heavy cream. To make it gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta and check sausage ingredients. For extra veggies, stir in spinach or mushrooms at the end. Adjust Cajun seasoning for desired spice level. Leftovers keep well and taste even better the next day.

Nutrition

Keywords: creamy Cajun sausage pasta, one-pot pasta, easy dinner, spicy sausage pasta, weeknight meal, comfort food, Louisiana pasta, quick pasta recipe

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