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Creamy Cajun Sausage Pasta

A quick and comforting dish that combines spicy Cajun sausage with creamy Parmesan sauce and pasta, perfect for busy weeknights.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Southern
Calories: 500
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main ingredients
  • 8 ounces fettuccine or penne pasta Use gluten-free if needed
  • 1 pound Cajun sausage or andouille sausage, sliced
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 piece bell pepper, diced (any color)
  • 1 piece onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup heavy cream See notes for swaps
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
  • 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning Adjust to taste
  • to taste salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • to taste Chopped parsley for garnish

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside, reserving a little pasta water.
  2. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add olive oil. Add the sliced sausage and sauté until browned on both sides and glossy, about 4–6 minutes. Remove some excess fat if the pan seems overly greasy, leaving a tablespoon for flavor.
  3. Add the diced bell pepper and onion to the skillet. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and slightly caramelized, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook 30–60 seconds until fragrant.
  4. Pour in the heavy cream and chicken broth. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, scraping up any browned bits from the pan. Reduce heat slightly.
  5. Stir in the grated Parmesan and the Cajun seasoning. Whisk until the cheese melts and the sauce thickens slightly. If the sauce is too thick, loosen with a splash of reserved pasta water or additional broth.
  6. Add the cooked pasta to the skillet. Toss thoroughly so each strand or tube is well coated in the sauce. Cook for 1–2 minutes to marry flavors.
  7. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with chopped parsley and serve hot.

Notes

For a lighter sauce, swap half-and-half plus a tablespoon of butter for heavy cream. For a dairy-free version, use full-fat coconut milk and nutritional yeast in place of Parmesan. If you prefer seafood, replace the sausage with shrimp and reduce cook time.