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Flavorful Cajun Pasta with Sausage

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A creamy, spicy Cajun pasta with smoky sausage and bold flavors, perfect for weeknight dinners or entertaining guests.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 ounces penne pasta
  • 8 ounces smoked sausage (e.g., andouille or kielbasa), sliced
  • 1 cup diced red bell pepper
  • 1 cup diced green bell pepper
  • 1 cup diced yellow bell pepper
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • Salt, to taste
  • Black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the penne pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain and set aside.
  2. While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a deep skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced smoked sausage and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned. Remove and set aside.
  3. In the same skillet, add the diced onion and bell peppers. Sauté for 5-6 minutes until softened and lightly caramelized.
  4. Add the minced garlic and Cajun seasoning to the skillet. Cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly, until fragrant.
  5. Pour in the chicken broth and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Let it simmer for 2-3 minutes.
  6. Reduce the heat to low and stir in the heavy cream. Let it heat through, then add the Parmesan cheese and stir until melted and smooth.
  7. Return the cooked sausage to the skillet, followed by the cooked pasta. Toss everything together, adding reserved pasta water a little at a time until the sauce reaches your desired consistency.
  8. Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Serve warm, garnished with extra Parmesan and fresh parsley if desired.

Notes

[‘Cook pasta al dente as it will continue to cook slightly when mixed with the sauce.’, ‘Use fresh garlic and Parmesan for better flavor.’, ‘Adjust Cajun seasoning to suit your spice tolerance.’, ‘Reserve pasta water to achieve a silky sauce consistency.’, ‘Toss pasta thoroughly to coat it evenly with the sauce.’]

Nutrition

Keywords: Cajun pasta, sausage pasta, creamy pasta, spicy pasta, weeknight dinner, easy dinner recipe

Find it online: https://lucydishes.com/flavorful-cajun-pasta-with-sausage-recipe-perfect-for-dinner/