Description
Experience a burst of energy with this comforting Cajun pasta dish. Featuring savory beef or turkey andouille sausage, crisp bell peppers, and a rich, creamy sauce infused with authentic Cajun spices, this meal feels like a warm hug. It is a hearty, one-skillet style delight that is perfect for busy weeknights, delivering restaurant-quality flavor in just over half an hour without the stress of complicated cleanup.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 pound beef or turkey andouille sausage, sliced
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
2 red or yellow bell peppers, sliced into strips
3–4 cloves garlic, minced
15 ounces fire-roasted diced tomatoes
1 1/2 cups water
8 ounces casarecce or penne pasta
2 cups milk
3 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 teaspoon Cajun or Creole seasoning
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons salted butter
1 teaspoon extra minced garlic
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Freshly chopped parsley for garnish
Instructions
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and brown the sausage slices.
Add the red onion and bell peppers to the skillet and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes.
Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
Add the dry pasta, fire-roasted tomatoes, water, Cajun seasoning, and smoked paprika to the skillet.
Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer, covering the skillet to cook for 10-12 minutes or until pasta is al dente.
In a separate small saucepan, melt the butter and whisk in the flour to create a roux, then gradually whisk in the milk until thickened.
Stir in the cream cheese and Parmesan cheese into the sauce mixture until smooth.
Pour the creamy sauce into the pasta skillet and toss to combine thoroughly.
Garnish with fresh parsley and serve hot.
Notes
Adjust the heat level by using more or less Cajun seasoning depending on your preference. If the sauce becomes too thick, add a splash of milk to adjust the consistency to your liking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 950mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 65mg