Description
Louisiana’s zesty Cajun Sausage Pasta Delight blends spicy andouille sausage with creamy pasta in a bold, pepper-packed sauce. Hearty flavors dance across your palate, promising a mouthwatering journey through Southern culinary passion.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 12–16 ounces (340–454 grams) short cut pasta (like penne), gluten-free if needed
- 1 (12 ounce/340 grams) package andouille sausage, sliced on the bias
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 2 medium bell peppers, any color, diced
Seasonings and Spices:
- 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning, divided
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- 1 pinch of red pepper flakes, to taste
Liquid and Dairy Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 ¼ cups (296 milliliters) chicken broth
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- ½ cup (50 grams) grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
- Fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Fill a spacious pot with water, season generously with salt, and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Submerge pasta and cook until perfectly tender yet firm (al dente), following package guidelines. Extract of starchy cooking liquid before draining, then set pasta aside without rinsing.
- Warm olive oil in a expansive skillet over medium-high temperature. Slice andouille sausage into uniform rounds and season with Cajun spice blend. Sear meat until edges become deliciously crisp and golden, approximately 5 minutes. Transfer sausage to a separate plate.
- Reduce skillet heat to medium. Add diced onions, bell peppers, remaining Cajun seasoning, and a delicate sprinkle of red pepper flakes. Sauté vegetables until they soften and become translucent, around 3 minutes. Introduce minced garlic and cook briefly until aromatic, about 1 minute.
- Incorporate chicken broth, heavy cream, and tomato paste into the vegetable mixture. Gently elevate temperature until sauce begins to bubble, then lower heat and allow liquid to reduce and slightly thicken, 5-7 minutes.
- Fold grated Parmesan cheese into the simmering sauce. Add cooked pasta and crispy sausage, thoroughly coating ingredients with creamy mixture. Adjust sauce consistency by gradually introducing reserved pasta water if needed.
- Plate the pasta immediately, garnishing with additional Parmesan cheese and freshly chopped parsley. Serve piping hot, allowing diners to experience the vibrant Cajun-inspired flavors.
Notes
- Spice Intensity Can Be Customized by adjusting the amount of Cajun seasoning and red pepper flakes to suit personal heat preferences.
- Andouille Sausage provides a smoky, authentic Cajun flavor that’s crucial to the dish’s character and can’t be easily substituted.
- Reserve Pasta Water is a chef’s secret weapon for creating a perfectly silky sauce that clings beautifully to the pasta.
- One-Skillet Magic means fewer dishes to clean and allows flavors to build and develop throughout the cooking process.
- Fresh Herbs like chopped parsley add a bright, fresh finish that cuts through the richness of the creamy sauce.
- Serve Immediately after mixing to enjoy the optimal texture of the crispy sausage and perfectly coated pasta.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 525 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 980 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg