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.
- Melt the butter in a large skillet. Add the green bell pepper, red onion and garlic. Saute until vegetables start to soften.
- Make roux. Whisk the chicken broth into the in flour. Set aside.
- Cook sausage. Add the andouille sausage to the skillet and cook for an additional 2 minutes, browning on both sides.
- 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.
- 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 30 Minute 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
The cream sauce itself is made with chicken broth, flour, cajun seasoning and heavy cream. Everything comes together to make a deliciously simple sauce.
This creamy Cajun sauce can be thickened by simply adding more roux. A roux is made up of melted butter and flour, which when cooked together forms a paste.
Rasta pasta is very similar to this creamy cajun pasta. However, it uses creole seasoning or jerk seasoning rather that the cajun seasoning we use in this recipe.
The options are really endless and up to personal preference. But check the section above for some great ideas about what to serve this dish with.
More Easy Pasta Recipes
Creamy Cajun Pasta Recipe
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.
This dish has it all- flavor, balance, and it’s easy to whip up and reheat! I really enjoyed the variety of veggies, sausage, pasta, and cajun seasoning all coming together in one pot.
This is such a great recipe. I’m a big fan of spicy food with creamy sauce. It’s just such a great combination. My family loves this recipe.
The sauce is beyond amazing!! Husband added a bit more heat where I left it more mild for the kids. Easy to alter to our liking.
I love this quick, easy, and flavorful dinner recipe. It makes great leftovers, too!
Oh my that was good! The cajun really put this over the top with flavor. Thank you for this awesome recipe!
I’m assuming the grape tomatoes get added and tossed at the end with the cooked pasta as opposed to being cooked at the beginning with the peppers and onions?
You are correct.
Is this served cold or warm?
I serve it hot, but hubby likes the leftovers cold.
My favorite past combination – creamy & Cajun.
This Cajun pasta looks lovely Jessica! 🙂 I’ve never tried Cajun-Flavored anything but this looks goooood! But a great way to ring in the season too!
It is a little spicy and a little smoky, but ALWAYS, oh, so good!!! You should try it!
This sounds amazing! and so easy too. I bet my guy will love this. Pinned!
Malia, thank you for stopping by! It is a REALLY good recipe! Also, don’t forget to snap a photo of it and send it to San Giorgio’s FB page so they donate a box of pasta!