Description
This One Pot Creamy Cajun Sausage Pasta is a flavorful and easy weeknight dinner featuring spicy andouille sausage, sautéed mushrooms and bell peppers, tender gluten-free penne pasta, and a rich creamy sauce made with cream cheese and Cajun seasoning. Ready in just 30 minutes, it's a comforting, all-in-one dish perfect for busy evenings.
Ingredients
Scale
Sausage
- 13 oz. andouille sausage links (about 4 links), sliced into medallions
Vegetables
- 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
- 1/2 cup canned, diced fire-roasted tomatoes
Pasta and Liquids
- 12 oz. gluten-free penne pasta
- 3 1/2 cups chicken broth
Seasonings and Dairy
- 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 sliced andouille sausage medallions to a large skillet or braiser over medium heat. Sear on both sides until they crisp up slightly, about 4 minutes total. Remove the sausage to a paper towel-lined plate, keeping 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 start to brown and the vegetables soften.
- Add Liquids and Pasta: Stir in the gluten-free penne pasta, diced fire-roasted tomatoes, chicken broth, and Cajun seasoning mix. Combine all ingredients evenly, then cover the skillet with a lid and bring the broth to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Simmer Pasta: Once boiling, reduce heat to medium and simmer the pasta for about 15 minutes, stirring every few minutes to prevent sticking, until the pasta is tender and cooked al dente.
- Add Cream Cheese: Cut the cream cheese into chunks and add them 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 medallions to the skillet. Add salt to taste and stir everything together until combined. Garnish with freshly chopped Italian parsley and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes if desired. Serve hot.
Notes
- This all-in-one skillet recipe makes cleanup easy and speeds up dinner prep, perfect for busy weeknights.
- Adjust the amount of Cajun seasoning or red pepper flakes to control the heat level according to your preference.
- For a creamier sauce, add a splash of heavy cream or milk along with the cream cheese.
- Use gluten-free pasta as specified to keep the dish gluten free, or substitute with your preferred pasta type.
- If you prefer less salt, use a low-sodium chicken broth and Cajun seasoning mix.
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
