Cajun Pasta with Sausage and Peppers
Smoky sausage, tender peppers, pasta, and a creamy Cajun-spiced sauce come together in one seriously satisfying dinner. It has the bold flavor of a restaurant-style pasta dish while still being practical enough for a busy weeknight, with just 15 minutes of prep and 35 minutes from start to finish.
Print Pin Servings: 8
Ingredients
Sausage and Peppers
- 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 pound andouille sausage, halved and cut into 1/4-inch slices
- 1 small red onion, halved and sliced
- 2 red or yellow bell peppers, sliced
- 3-4 cloves garlic, minced
Pasta
- 15 ounces diced tomatoes
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 8 ounces casarecce pasta or similar shape
Sauce
- 2 cups milk
- 3 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 tsp Cajun or Creole seasoning (we like Tony Chachere’s)
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 2 tbsp Salted butter
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra to garnish + more for garnish
- Freshly chopped parsley to garnish
Instructions
- Pour the olive oil into a large skillet and set it over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring partway through, until the pieces are lightly seared.
- Add the onions and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the sliced peppers and garlic. Continue to cook and stir for another 3-5 minutes until onions have softened and peppers are tender-crisp. Transfer the sausage, peppers, and onions to a plate and set aside.
- Add the diced tomatoes and water to the pan, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom with a wooden spoon. Bring to a boil over high heat, then add the pasta. Cover and reduce the heat to medium-low, simmering until the pasta is al dente and has absorbed most of the liquid.
- Meanwhile, blend the milk, cream cheese, Cajun or Creole seasoning, smoked paprika, and flour in a blender.
- Melt the butter in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 60 seconds.
- Add the blended milk mixture to the garlic and butter. Cook and stir until slightly thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon. Remove from heat and stir in the Parmesan cheese.
- Add the sausage and peppers along with the cooked pasta to the sauce, stirring until everything is combined.
- Serve with additional Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley sprinkled on top.
