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Creamy Cajun Sausage Pasta taken with iphone 15 pro max --iw 2 --ar 4:5 --v 6.0 --raw

Creamy Cajun Sausage Pasta

This creamy cajun sausage pasta is a fast weeknight dinner made with smoky sausage, tender pasta, peppers, onion, and a creamy tomato-parmesan sauce. It has bold Cajun flavor, but the sauce rounds everything out so it tastes rich and balanced, not overly spicy. If you want a dinner that feels cozy, flavorful, and doable on a busy night, this is it.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 6 servings
Calories 483 kcal

Equipment

  • skillet large

Ingredients
  

Main ingredients

  • 16 oz short cut pasta like penne, gluten-free if needed
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 Tablespoon cajun seasoning divided
  • 1 (12 oz) package smoked andouille sausage sliced on the bias
  • 1 medium yellow onion diced
  • 2 bell peppers any color, diced
  • Pinch red pepper flakes to taste
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 ¼ cups chicken broth
  • ½ cup heavy cream or full-fat coconut milk
  • 2 Tablespoons tomato paste
  • ½ cup grated parmesan cheese plus more for serving
  • Fresh parsley for serving

Instructions
 

Instructions

  • Cook your short cut pasta the usual way, according to the package. Then drain and set aside so it don’t get soggy in the sauce.
  • Heat up 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Get that pan hot enough.
  • Add your sliced smoked andouille sausage and cook it until browned. That takes about 5 minutes. You want 'em nice and crispy around the edges.
  • Toss in diced onion and bell peppers next. Sauté ‘em until they get soft, about 4-5 minutes. You ready for the kitchen to start smelling crazy good?
  • Stir in minced garlic, half a tablespoon of cajun seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Cook for about a minute till you smell all those spices popping.
  • Pour in the chicken broth and get it simmering; that broth depth gonna soak into everything real good.
  • Now add your cream or coconut milk plus the rest of the cajun seasoning. Let the sauce simmer gently for 3-4 minutes until it thickens a bit and tastes smooth.
  • Finally, toss the cooked pasta into the skillet. Stir ‘em well so every piece is coated with that creamy, spicy sauce.
  • Give it a taste and season with salt and pepper if it needs. Serve right away with extra parmesan and fresh parsley on top.

Notes

Pasta Type and Shape: I usually make this with penne or another short pasta shape that holds onto the sauce well. Gluten-free pasta often comes in 12-ounce boxes, while regular pasta is usually 16 ounces. Cajun seasoning spice levels vary.