Quick Creamy Cajun Pasta

A restaurant quality meal ready in only 20 minutes? This homemade Creamy Cajun Pasta recipe hits the mark and makes for the perfect way weeknight dinner.

I’m making my weeknight menu and need a few quick and easy dinner ideas to get us through the week in one piece.

Cajun Pasta Recipe

Pasta and smoked sausage really are the way to start a quick dinner. The meat is already cooked and full of flavor and the pasta is ready in no time flat. You are really only putting a little elbow grease into the veggies.

The holy trinity is a trio of ingredients used to make many classic Cajun dishes. It is comprised of onions, green bell peppers, and celery. I took two of the three for this pasta, but you could certainly add celery if you have it in the fridge.

Creamy Cajun Pasta only uses a small amount of heavy cream, which is something that is generally always in my fridge as I am a coffee drinker. If it isn’t something you have, you could swap it for some sour cream.

The spices are delicious and provide a sweet heat, as does the sausage, that gives you a pleasant heat without making you sweat. If you are in the camp that likes to turn the heat, adjust as you see fit.

Why You’ll Love This Creamy Cajun Pasta

An easy pasta dinner is always loved by my family, but this specific pasta is one of our favorites.

• Quick to throw together – No, that’s not a misprint! This pasta really is ready to enjoy in only 20 minutes.
• Flavorful – I adore Cajun seasoning (as seen in my Cajun Shrimp Alfredo, Cajun Fries, and many other Cajun recipes,) because the flavor is the perfect amount of savory and spicy.
• Versatile – Of course you can follow this recipe exactly as is, but there are so many ways that you’re able to make it your own.

Ingredients for Cajun Pasta

This list of ingredients for this simple creamy cajun pasta are really easy to find at your local grocery store.

• Butter – When cooking, I always prefer to use unsalted butter. That way I’m able to control the amount of salt that goes into a recipe. We use it to saute the veggies in this recipe.
• Bell pepper – I like the color contrast that green pepper has with the rest of the ingredients of this creamy cajun pasta dish. But you could certainly use red bell pepper in addition to or instead of.
• Red onion – Just to add a bit more flavor, crunch and color, I like to add in some minced red onions. Feel free to use a different type of onion like yellow or white if preferred.
• Garlic cloves – Rather than minced like most recipes call for, I like the garlic to be thinly sliced for this recipe. I like the flavor and texture that it adds to the dish.
• Andouille sausage – Make sure this is already cooked and thinly sliced. And if you’re not into sausage, check out the section below for other protein options.
• Chicken broth – I always like to use low sodium broth when cooking anything. We will use this to make a roux.
• Flour – This is the other half of our roux mixture. It’s used to thicken cream sauces like the one used for this cajun pasta recipe.
• Cajun seasoning – Cajun spices are usually made with garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, smoked paprika, dried oregano, kosher salt and cayenne pepper. You can find a pre-made mix at the grocery store or make your own.
• Pasta – I used rotini pasta for this creamy pasta dish, however, you can use any shape you’d like. Penne pasta would also be a good one to use. Just cook to al dente according to package directions.
• Heavy cream – To add a creamy element to this pasta, we use heavy cream. Some like to use cream cheese to make the creamy sauce, but I like mine to be a bit lighter.
• Tomatoes – Tomatoes add an acidity and deliciousness to this easy pasta recipe that can’t be beat. You could also use a can of diced tomatoes (drained) if that’s what you have on hand.

How to Make Creamy Cajun Pasta

This is one of my favorite easy weeknight dinner recipes because of how quick and easy it is. Follow these steps to make the best creamy cajun pasta.

1. Melt the butter in a large skillet. Add the green bell pepper, red onion and garlic. Saute until vegetables start to soften.
2. Make roux. Whisk the chicken broth into the in flour. Set aside.
3. Cook sausage. Add the andouille sausage to the skillet and cook for an additional 2 minutes, browning on both sides.
4. Combine ingredients. Pour the water mixture into the skillet, it will get thick fast. Add the Cajun seasoning and stir until mixed. Add cream until smooth.
5. Toss with pasta and tomatoes. Toss with the cooked pasta and tomatoes and serve.

Creamy Cajun Pasta Serving Suggestions

As with any pasta, it pairs well with a leafy green salad, soup or crusty bread. My White Bean and Ham Soup or even Brussels Sprout Salad would be great.

As for the bread, the options are really endless. However, you can’t go wrong with a good Everything Garlic Bread or Quick Dinner Rolls.

Variations

We think this is a great recipe as is, full of cajun flavors. However, these are lots of ways to make it your own! Below are some suggestions.

• Add some spice – If you like your pasta dishes a little spicier, you can add some red pepper flakes. You can also find a spicy cajun spice blend at the store to take it up a notch.
• Sausage – Not a fan of andouille sausage? Substitute another sausage, chicken, or shrimp to cater to your family’s taste. Chicken thighs would also add so much flavor.
• Vegetables – Bell peppers are an important part of this dish, but feel free to add even more. Mushrooms, green onions or even tomato paste would be a great idea.

Storage and Freezing

Storage: You can store this creamy cajun sausage pasta recipe in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will keep for up to three days.

Freezing: This pasta also freezes really well too. It’s quick and easy to reheat and enjoy again when you’re ready. Just make sure it is also in an airtight container.

Frequently Asked Questions

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• Baked Ziti Pie
• Lasagna for a Crowd
• Easy Alfredo

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Creamy Cajun Pasta Recipe

4.75 from 8 votes

Creamy Cajun Pasta is seriously AH-MAZING and only takes 20 minutes! Rotini covered in a cream sauce with Cajun seasoning, smoky andouille sausage, sautéed peppers, red onion and grape tomatoes.

Prep Time: 5 minutes mins

Cook Time: 15 minutes mins

Total Time: 20 minutes mins

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Servings: 4

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Equipment

• Garlic press
• Large Cast Iron Skillet
• Whisk

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup green bell pepper , coarsely chopped
• 1/2 cup red onion , minced
• 3 garlic cloves , thinly sliced
• 4 links andouille sausage , cooked and thinly sliced
• 1 cup low sodium chicken broth
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
• 4 cups rotini pasta , cooked*
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup grape tomatoes , halved

Instructions

• Melt the butter in a large skillet. Add the green bell pepper, red onion and garlic. Saute for 3-4 minutes, or until vegetables start to soften.
• Whisk the chicken broth into the in flour. Set aside.
• Add the andouille sausage to the skillet and cook for an additional 2 minutes, browning on both sides.
• Pour the water mixture into the skillet, it will get thick fast. Add the Cajun seasoning and stir until mixed. Add cream until smooth.
• Toss with the cooked pasta and tomatoes and serve.
• If you've tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or star ratings.

Nutrition

Calories: 260 kcal, Carbohydrates: 7 g, Protein: 2 g, Fat: 25 g, Saturated Fat: 15 g, Cholesterol: 89 mg, Sodium: 62 mg, Potassium: 188 mg, Sugar: 1 g, Vitamin A: 1435 IU, Vitamin C: 8.8 mg, Calcium: 48 mg, Iron: 0.3 mg

Author: Chef Jessica Formicola

Calories: 260

Course: Main Course, Main Dish

Cuisine: Creole

Keyword: cajun pasta, creole pasta

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