Description
A creamy, spicy, crowd-pleasing Cajun smoked sausage Alfredo pasta loaded with bold flavors and perfect for a quick family dinner. This easy recipe combines smoky sausage, Cajun spices, and a rich Alfredo sauce for a hearty meal everyone will love.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz penne pasta
- 14 oz smoked sausage, sliced
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 1/2 tsp Cajun seasoning (plus more to taste)
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Chopped parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add penne pasta and cook until al dente (about 9-11 minutes or according to package directions). Drain and set aside, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water.
- While pasta cooks, heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sliced smoked sausage in a single layer and cook 2-3 minutes per side until browned and crisp around the edges. Remove sausage to a plate, leaving drippings in the pan.
- In the same skillet, add diced onion and sliced red bell pepper. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until onions are soft and peppers are tender-crisp. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Pour in heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom. Stir in Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Simmer for 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Reduce heat to low and gradually stir in Parmesan cheese until melted and sauce is smooth. If sauce is too thick, add a splash of reserved pasta water.
- Add cooked pasta and browned sausage to the skillet. Toss until pasta is well coated and sausage is evenly distributed. Cook together for 1-2 minutes to blend flavors. Adjust seasoning as needed.
- Serve hot, garnished with chopped parsley and extra Parmesan if desired.
Notes
For a lighter version, use half-and-half instead of heavy cream or turkey sausage instead of pork. Gluten-free pasta works well. Add extra veggies like mushrooms or spinach for variety. If sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water; if too thin, simmer gently. Finish under the broiler with extra cheese for a bubbly top.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Cuisine: Cajun, Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1/6 of recipe (approx. 1 1/2 cups)
- Calories: 620
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 1100
- Fat: 38
- Saturated Fat: 20
- Carbohydrates: 48
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 20
Keywords: cajun smoked sausage alfredo pasta, easy dinner idea, family pasta recipe