Description
One Pot Creamy Cajun Sausage Pasta is a flavorful and easy weeknight dinner featuring seared andouille sausage, sautéed vegetables, and gluten-free penne pasta cooked in a creamy Cajun spiced sauce made with cream cheese and fire-roasted tomatoes. This hearty dish blends smoky, spicy, and creamy elements into one comforting skillet meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Sausage and Vegetables
- 13 oz. andouille sausage links (about 4 links), sliced into medallions
- 6 oz. fresh baby bella mushrooms, cleaned and thinly sliced
- 1/2 medium red bell pepper, stemmed, seeds removed, and thinly sliced
- 1/2 medium yellow bell pepper, stemmed, seeds removed, and thinly sliced
- 3 large garlic cloves, minced
Pasta and Sauce
- 12 oz. gluten-free penne pasta
- 1/2 cup canned diced fire-roasted tomatoes
- 3 1/2 cups chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons no-salt or low-salt Cajun seasoning mix
- 7 oz. cream cheese
- Salt, to taste
- Fresh Italian parsley, finely chopped (optional)
- Red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Cook sausage: Add the sausage medallions to a large skillet or braiser over medium heat and sear them on both sides until they crisp up a bit, about 4 minutes total. Remove the sausage and place on a paper towel-lined plate. Reserve the sausage oil in the pan.
- Cook veggies: Add the mushrooms, red and yellow bell peppers, and minced garlic to the same skillet with the sausage oil. Sauté for about 3 minutes or until the mushrooms start to brown.
- Add ingredients: Pour in the gluten-free penne pasta, fire-roasted diced tomatoes, chicken broth, and Cajun seasoning. Stir just until all ingredients are evenly combined, then cover with a lid and bring the broth to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Cook pasta: Once boiling, reduce heat to medium and let the pasta simmer for 15 minutes, stirring every couple of minutes until the pasta is tender and cooked al dente.
- Add cream cheese: Add cream cheese in chunks to the skillet and stir until fully melted, creating a thick and creamy sauce.
- Combine and serve: Return the sausage medallions to the skillet, season with salt to taste, and stir everything together. Garnish with freshly chopped Italian parsley and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes if desired. Serve immediately.
Notes
- This one pot dinner is perfect for busy weeknights due to its minimal cleanup and quick prep.
- For less heat, reduce or omit the Cajun seasoning or red pepper flakes.
- Adjust cream cheese amount to make the sauce creamier or lighter based on preference.
- Using gluten-free pasta keeps this recipe suitable for gluten-sensitive guests.
- Make sure to stir frequently during pasta cooking to prevent sticking to the pan.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 362 kcal
- Sugar: 4.6 g
- Sodium: 500.3 mg
- Fat: 21.9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5.2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14.9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 7.3 g
- Fiber: 2.2 g
- Protein: 33.7 g
- Cholesterol: 90.7 mg
