Description
This Cajun Sausage Pasta combines smoky sausage, colorful bell peppers, onions, tender penne, and a creamy Parmesan Cajun sauce. It’s an easy 30-minute dinner with bold flavor and just the right amount of spice.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 ounces penne pasta
- Salt, for boiling water
Sausage & Vegetables
- 12 ounces smoked sausage, sliced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion, sliced
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced
- 1 green bell pepper, sliced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
Creamy Cajun Sauce
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup reserved pasta water
- 1½ tablespoons Cajun seasoning
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
Garnish
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley
- Extra Parmesan cheese
- Sliced green onions, optional
Instructions
- Cook penne in salted water until al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water and drain.
- Brown sliced sausage in olive oil for 3–4 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
- Sauté onion and bell peppers until slightly tender.
- Add garlic and cook for about 30 seconds.
- Stir in Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, black pepper, and red pepper flakes.
- Add heavy cream and gently simmer for 2–3 minutes.
- Reduce heat and gradually stir in Parmesan.
- Add pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce.
- Return sausage to the skillet and add cooked pasta.
- Toss until everything is coated in the creamy sauce.
- Garnish with parsley, Parmesan, and green onions.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- Andouille sausage gives the strongest Cajun-style flavor.
- Cajun seasonings vary in saltiness and heat.
- Taste the sauce before adding extra salt.
- Freshly grated Parmesan melts best.
- Don’t boil the cream.
- Reserve pasta water before draining.
- Add chicken, shrimp, spinach, or mushrooms for variations.
- Serve immediately for the best creamy texture.
Nutrition
- Calories: 690
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 1,180mg
- Fat: 38g
- Saturated Fat: 17g
- Carbohydrates: 64g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 27g
- Cholesterol: 95mg