One Pot Creamy Cajun Sausage Pasta
A cozy, one pot creamy Cajun sausage pasta with tender penne, smoky sausage, and a lightly spicy, creamy tomato sauce that comes together quickly on a busy weeknight.
Ingredients
- 8 oz penne pasta, uncooked
- 12 oz smoked sausage, sliced into rounds
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning
- 0.5 tsp smoked paprika
- 0.5 tsp dried oregano
- 0.5 tsp salt
- 0.25 tsp black pepper
- 2 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup canned crushed tomatoes
- 0.75 cup heavy cream
- 0.5 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large deep skillet or wide pot over medium heat.
- Add the sliced smoked sausage to the pot and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sausage is lightly browned on the edges.
- Stir in the chopped yellow onion and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until the onion softens and turns translucent.
- Add the minced garlic to the pot and cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly, until fragrant but not browned.
- Sprinkle in the Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper, stirring well to coat the sausage and onions evenly with the spices.
- Pour in the chicken broth and canned crushed tomatoes, stirring to combine and scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
- Add the uncooked penne pasta to the pot and press it down gently so the pasta is mostly submerged in the liquid.
- Bring the mixture to a gentle boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to medium-low and cover the pot with a lid.
- Simmer for 12 to 14 minutes, lifting the lid to stir every few minutes, until the pasta is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed.
- Reduce the heat to low, then pour in the heavy cream and stir until the sauce looks smooth and creamy.
- Sprinkle in the grated Parmesan cheese and stir until the cheese has melted into the sauce and the pasta is evenly coated.
- Remove the pot from the heat, taste the pasta, and adjust the seasoning with a little more salt or black pepper if needed.
- Sprinkle the chopped fresh parsley over the top, then let the pasta rest for 2 to 3 minutes before serving so the sauce can thicken slightly.