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Creamy Cajun Sausage Pasta

Creamy Cajun Sausage Pasta

This creamy Cajun sausage pasta features bold flavors with andouille sausage and a rich sauce, perfect for a quick meal.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American, Cajun
Servings 6 servings
Calories 483 kcal

Equipment

  • large pot
  • large skillet

Ingredients
  

Pasta and Sauce

  • 12-16 ounces short cut pasta (like penne) gluten-free if needed
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 Tablespoon cajun seasoning divided
  • 12 ounces smoked andouille sausage sliced on the bias
  • 1 medium yellow onion diced
  • 2 bell peppers any color diced (I used red and green pepper)
  • 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
 

Cooking Instructions

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook it to al dente according to the package directions. Remove a cup of the pasta water and set aside. Drain the pasta but do not rinse it.
  • While it's cooking, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and 2 teaspoons of cajun seasoning and cook to crisp on both sides, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a clean plate or bowl.
  • Turn the stove down to medium heat and add the onion and pepper, the remaining teaspoon of cajun seasoning, and a little bit of red pepper flakes to the same skillet and cook to soften, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for another minute, until fragrant.
  • Whisk in the chicken broth, heavy cream, and tomato paste until smooth. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil over medium-high heat then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 5-7 minutes to thicken slightly.
  • Stir in the parmesan cheese then add the cooked pasta and crispy sausage and toss to coat in the sauce. Add up to 1 cup of the reserved pasta cooking water to thin the sauce slightly as needed. Serve right away with more parmesan cheese and freshly chopped parsley.

Notes

Gluten-free pasta typically comes in 12-ounce boxes rather than 16-ounces. You can use plain smoked sausage, chicken sausage, Spanish chorizo, or turkey sausage for this recipe. Adjust spice level to preference.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 483kcalCarbohydrates: 64.1gProtein: 16.7gFat: 17.5gCholesterol: 31.5mgSodium: 558.9mgFiber: 4.1gSugar: 5.9gVitamin A: 129.1IUVitamin C: 54.2mg
Keyword comfort food, creamy, pasta, quick meal, sausage, spicy
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