Cajun Sausage Pasta 🌶️🥩🔥🍝 Spicy, Smoky, and Drenched in a Cajun Cream Sauce That Clings to Every Bite

This pasta brings that southern heat — savory sausage seared to perfection, tossed with garlic, peppers, and a velvety Cajun-spiced cream sauce. It’s bold, rich, and surprisingly easy to pull off in a single skillet.

Weeknight pasta meets New Orleans flair.

Ingredients (Serves 3–4)

For the pasta

• 12 oz penne, rigatoni, or rotini
• Salted water for boiling
• ½ cup reserved pasta water

For the sausage & veggies

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 lb smoked sausage or andouille, sliced
• 1 red bell pepper, sliced
• 1 small yellow onion, sliced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1–2 tsp Cajun seasoning (store-bought or homemade)
• Optional: pinch of smoked paprika or cayenne for extra heat

For the sauce

• 1 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
• ½ cup chicken broth
• ½ cup grated Parmesan
• Optional: splash of lemon juice or hot sauce to balance

To finish

• Chopped parsley or green onions
• More Parmesan
• Optional: extra Cajun seasoning or chili flakes for topping

Instructions

Step 1: Cook the pasta
Boil pasta until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of the water, then drain and set aside.

Step 2: Brown the sausage
In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high. Add sliced sausage and sear until browned on both sides. Remove and set aside.

Step 3: Sauté veggies
In the same pan, add bell peppers and onions. Cook 5–6 minutes until softened and slightly charred. Add garlic and Cajun seasoning. Cook 1 minute more.

Step 4: Make the sauce
Pour in cream and broth. Stir to combine and bring to a gentle simmer. Let it reduce slightly, then stir in Parmesan until melted and smooth.

Step 5: Combine
Return sausage and cooked pasta to the pan. Toss everything together until coated. Add pasta water a splash at a time to loosen as needed. Simmer 1–2 minutes more.

Step 6: Serve hot
Top with parsley, more cheese, and a hit of extra spice if desired.

Flavor Variations

• Use shrimp instead of or alongside sausage
• Add spinach or cherry tomatoes for freshness
• Swap in fire-roasted tomatoes for a smoky twist
• Try it with cream cheese or ricotta for a tangier finish
• Use bowties or orecchiette for a different texture

Pro Tips

• Cajun seasoning blends vary — taste before you add extra
• Sear sausage well — that browned edge adds major depth
• Don’t let the cream boil — gentle heat keeps it smooth
• Reserve pasta water helps bind the sauce and keeps it silky
• Add lemon juice or vinegar at the end to brighten the richness

Final Thoughts

Cajun Sausage Pasta is creamy, spicy, and guaranteed to turn a regular pasta night into something unforgettable. It’s smoky, saucy, and bold — the kind of skillet dinner that disappears fast.

Sear it. Spice it. Let the sauce do the heavy lifting. 🌶️🥩🔥🍝

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