Description
A comforting and spicy pasta dish with smoked sausage and a creamy Cajun sauce, perfect for family meals.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 ounces pasta (penne, rigatoni, or fusilli)
- 1 pound smoked or Andouille sausage, sliced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced
- 1 cup cremini or button mushrooms, sliced
- 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 3/4 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups baby spinach
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley and lemon wedges for finishing
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta until just shy of al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain and set aside.
- Brown the sausage: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add olive oil and brown the sliced sausage until edges caramelize, about 4 minutes. Remove sausage and set aside.
- Sauté aromatics: Reduce heat to medium, add onion and a pinch of salt, and cook until translucent, about 4 minutes. Add garlic, bell pepper, and mushrooms, cooking until softened.
- Build the sauce: Sprinkle in Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, and red pepper flakes. Stir for 30 seconds, then pour in chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits. Let it simmer and reduce for 2–3 minutes.
- Finish the sauce: Stir in the cream and half of the Parmesan. Return the sausage to the pan and simmer gently until the sauce thickens slightly—about 3 minutes.
- Combine with pasta: Add the cooked pasta and spinach, tossing to coat. If the sauce seems too thick, add reserved pasta water a splash at a time until you reach the desired consistency. Taste and season with salt and pepper.
- Serve: Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan and fresh parsley, and serve with lemon wedges for brightness.
Notes
For a healthier option, use turkey sausage and Greek yogurt instead of heavy cream.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 60g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: Cajun, sausage pasta, creamy pasta, family meal, quick dinner