Description
One Pot Creamy Cajun Sausage Pasta is a rich and flavorful dish combining spicy andouille sausage, sautéed bell peppers and mushrooms, and tender gluten-free penne pasta in a creamy Cajun-seasoned sauce. This easy weeknight dinner comes together quickly in one skillet, offering a perfect balance of spice and creaminess with customizable heat and texture.
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 on both sides until they crisp up slightly, about 4 minutes total. Remove the sausage and place on a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil, but keep the sausage oil in the skillet.
- Cook Veggies: In the same skillet with the sausage oil, add the sliced mushrooms, red and yellow bell peppers, and minced garlic. Sauté for about 3 minutes until the mushrooms begin to brown and the peppers soften slightly.
- Add Ingredients: Stir in the gluten-free penne pasta, diced fire-roasted tomatoes, chicken broth, and Cajun seasoning. Mix just until evenly combined. Cover the skillet with a lid and bring the broth to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Cook Pasta: Once boiling, reduce heat to medium and simmer uncovered for about 15 minutes, stirring every couple of minutes, until the pasta is tender and cooked al dente.
- Add Cream Cheese: Cut the cream cheese into chunks and add it to the skillet. Stir continuously until the cream cheese fully melts and creates a thick, creamy sauce coating the pasta and vegetables.
- Combine and Serve: Return the cooked sausage to the skillet, season with salt to taste, and stir thoroughly to combine. Garnish with a sprinkling of fresh Italian parsley and red pepper flakes if desired. Serve immediately.
Notes
- This one pot recipe is perfect for minimizing cleanup and quick weeknight dinners.
- Adjust the amount of Cajun seasoning or red pepper flakes to customize the heat level to your preference.
- Add more cream cheese if you prefer a richer and creamier sauce, or reduce it for a lighter dish.
- Using gluten-free penne caters to gluten-sensitive diets without sacrificing texture.
- Be sure to stir the pasta frequently during simmering to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of 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
