One Pot Creamy Cajun Sausage Pasta (Printer-friendly)

Smoky sausage and tender pasta swim in a rich, spicy cream sauce—all cooked in one pot for easy cleanup.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Meats

01 - 12 oz smoked sausage (andouille or kielbasa), sliced into 1/4-inch rounds

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
04 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
05 - 3 cloves garlic, minced

→ Spices & Seasonings

06 - 1 1/2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning (plus more to taste)
07 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
08 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
09 - 1/4 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)

→ Pasta & Dairy

10 - 12 oz penne pasta (or other short pasta)
11 - 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
12 - 1 cup heavy cream
13 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

→ Optional Garnish

14 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

# How to Make It:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the sliced sausage and cook until browned, about 4–5 minutes. Remove sausage with a slotted spoon and set aside.
02 - In the same pot, add onion and bell pepper. Sauté until softened, about 3–4 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
03 - Stir in Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Return the sausage to the pot and mix to coat with the spices.
04 - Add uncooked pasta, chicken broth, and heavy cream. Stir well, scraping any browned bits from the bottom.
05 - Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 12–14 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is al dente and most of the liquid is absorbed.
06 - Remove from heat. Stir in Parmesan cheese until creamy. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
07 - Garnish with chopped parsley and serve hot.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The sauce thickens naturally as the pasta cooks, creating restaurant-style creaminess without any fancy techniques
  • Everything happens in one pot, so you get maximum flavor with minimum cleanup
  • The Cajun spices hit different when they've had time to bloom in the hot oil
02 -
  • The pasta continues absorbing liquid even after you remove it from heat, so take it off the stove when it's slightly more liquid than you'd like
  • Cajun seasoning blends vary wildly in heat levels, so always start with less and add more as you go
  • If your sauce looks too thick before the pasta is done, add splash of broth rather than water
03 -
  • Grate your own Parmesan instead of buying pre-grated—the melting difference is remarkable
  • Use a pot with a heavy bottom to prevent hot spots that might scorch the cream
  • Let the pasta rest for five minutes before serving so the sauce has time to thicken properly

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