Description
This One Pot Creamy Cajun Sausage Pasta is a flavorful and easy-to-make dinner featuring spicy andouille sausage, sautéed vegetables, and creamy cheese sauce all cooked together with gluten-free penne pasta. Perfect for a weeknight meal, this dish combines smoky, spicy, and creamy elements in a single skillet for minimal cleanup and maximum taste.
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)
Other Ingredients
- 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, about 4 minutes total. Remove the sausage and set aside on a paper towel-lined plate, keeping the sausage oil in the skillet.
- Cook Veggies: In the same skillet, add the sliced mushrooms, bell peppers, and minced garlic. Sauté for about 3 minutes or 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 into the skillet. Mix until everything is evenly combined, then cover with a lid and bring the broth to a boil.
- Cook Pasta: Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium and let the pasta simmer uncovered for 15 minutes, stirring every couple of minutes to prevent sticking, until the pasta is tender and cooked al dente.
- Add Cream Cheese: Add the cream cheese in chunks to the skillet and stir continuously until it 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 everything together well. Sprinkle with fresh Italian parsley and red pepper flakes if desired, then serve immediately.
Notes
- This recipe is an easy one pot meal with minimal cleanup, ideal for busy weeknights.
- Adjust the amount of Cajun seasoning or red pepper flakes to control the heat level to your preference.
- For a creamier sauce, you can add a little more cream cheese or a splash of heavy cream if desired.
- Make sure to stir frequently during pasta cooking to prevent sticking at the bottom of the pan.
- Using gluten-free penne pasta keeps this dish suitable for gluten-sensitive diets.
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
