Description
This creamy Cajun shrimp and sausage pasta is a quick, comforting weeknight dinner packed with bold flavors, juicy shrimp, smoky sausage, and a luscious, spicy cream sauce. It’s easy to make, endlessly customizable, and sure to become a family favorite.
Ingredients
- 12 oz fettuccine, linguine, or penne pasta
- 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 8 oz smoked andouille sausage, sliced into 1/4-inch rounds
- 1 1/2 tbsp Cajun seasoning, divided
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 medium bell pepper, diced (red or yellow)
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente (about 8-10 minutes). Reserve 1 cup pasta water, then drain and set aside.
- In a bowl, toss shrimp with 1/2 tbsp Cajun seasoning and a pinch of salt. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Add shrimp in a single layer and cook 1–2 minutes per side, until pink and just cooked through. Transfer to a plate.
- In the same skillet, add sausage. Sauté 3–4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden and sizzling. Remove to the plate with shrimp. Wipe out excess grease if needed.
- Melt butter in the skillet over medium heat. Add diced bell pepper and onion. Cook 3–5 minutes, stirring, until softened and fragrant. Add minced garlic; cook 1 minute longer.
- Sprinkle 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning over veggies and stir. Pour in chicken broth and scrape up any browned bits. Lower heat and stir in heavy cream. Simmer 2–3 minutes, stirring, until slightly thickened.
- Stir in grated Parmesan. Taste and add salt, black pepper, or more Cajun seasoning as needed. Sauce should be smooth and creamy.
- Add drained pasta, shrimp, and sausage to the skillet. Toss well to coat, adding reserved pasta water a splash at a time until the sauce is silky and clings to the noodles. Cook together 1–2 minutes to heat through.
- Top with chopped fresh parsley and extra Parmesan if desired. Serve immediately.
Notes
For a lighter version, use half-and-half and turkey sausage. To make gluten-free, use GF pasta. For dairy-free, substitute coconut cream and vegan Parmesan. Control the spice by adjusting Cajun seasoning. Add extra veggies like spinach or mushrooms if desired. Leftovers keep well for up to 3 days in the fridge; add a splash of cream or milk when reheating.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Cajun, American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1/4 of recipe (approx. 2 cups)
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 1200
- Fat: 36
- Saturated Fat: 16
- Carbohydrates: 52
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 32
Keywords: cajun pasta, shrimp and sausage pasta, creamy cajun pasta, weeknight dinner, spicy pasta, comfort food, easy pasta recipe, new orleans pasta