Description
This creamy one-pot Cajun sausage pasta is a quick and hearty meal featuring smoky sausage, colorful veggies, and pasta in a rich, Cajun-spiced cream sauce — all made in just 30 minutes with minimal cleanup.
Ingredients
10 oz smoked sausage (Andouille or kielbasa), sliced
4 oz pasta (penne or rigatoni)
2 tbsp Cajun seasoning
1 tbsp olive oil
1 cup diced bell peppers (mixed colors)
½ cup diced onion
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
½ tsp garlic powder
¼ tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
1 cup fresh spinach (optional)
Salt and pepper, to taste
Chopped parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet or pot over medium heat. Add sliced sausage and cook until browned. Remove and set aside.
- In the same pot, add diced bell peppers and onion. Cook until softened and fragrant.
- Stir in Cajun seasoning and garlic powder to coat the vegetables evenly.
- Pour in chicken broth and bring to a simmer. Add pasta and cook, stirring occasionally, until pasta is al dente.
- Reduce heat and stir in heavy cream and Parmesan cheese until melted and creamy.
- Return the sausage to the pot and stir to combine. Add spinach if using, and cook until wilted.
- Season with salt, pepper, and optional cayenne pepper to taste. Garnish with chopped parsley before serving.
Notes
Use half-and-half instead of heavy cream for a lighter version.
Swap sausage with grilled chicken or shrimp for variation.
Vegetarian version: omit sausage and add extra vegetables like mushrooms or zucchini.
Add more cayenne or hot sauce for extra heat.
Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat with a splash of broth or cream.
Not recommended for freezing due to the cream-based sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: One-Pot
- Cuisine: Southern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 890mg
- Fat: 36g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
