Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta with Sausage

How to make cajun seasoning at home

It’s all about the seasoning and this one will not disappoint. The creamy Cajun shrimp pasta with sausage recipe will make extra seasoning so do yourself a favor and save it. Ready to see how simple it is?

Mix smoked paprika (you can use regular paprika but smoked is recommended), salt, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, cayenne pepper and fresh cracked black pepper in a bowl. That’s it! Seasonings you likely already have on hand and will make you feel like you’re on a Louisiana food tour. 

Try it with Air Fryer Blackened Chicken. You can thank me later. Want this recipe less spicy? Use 1/2 Tbsp. vs. full Tbsp. of cayenne pepper in the seasoning. 

Choosing your shrimp

I like using large, deveined, peeled frozen shrimp is ideal to save on time. I swear by Waterfront Bistro frozen shrimp.  If you have access to fresh and don’t mind the detaining and peeling process, the go for it! Fresh is always the best option just be sure to remove the black vein on the underside! Alternatively, you can use pre-cooked shrimp. Coat it in the seasonings and use the pan to hear it without overcooking and set aside until the end when you combine the creamy Cajun pasta dish. The pasta will turn out delish regardless of which you chose.

On a shrimp kick? Here’s some favorite shrimp recipes: 

• Air Fryer Shrimp Tacos
• Steak and Shrimp Stir Fry
• Blackened Shrimp Alfredo
• Boom Boom Shrimp

Ingredients and Substitutes:

These are the main ingredients and substitutions. See recipe card below for full ingredients list and instructions for Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta with Sausage. 

Shrimp: for this shrimp recipe I am using Waterfront Bistro frozen shrimp. You can substitute with fresh shrimp or another favorite protein like chicken. 

Sausage: this recipe calls for Roasted Red Bell Pepper and Garlic Chicken Sausage. Switch out for any flavor sausage, smoked sausage or andouille sausage are my favorite options!

Bowtie Pasta: any preferred noodle works as well as gluten free. I prefer this dish with bowtie Farfalle as the size works great with the shrimp and sausage but penne pasta would be great too. The pasta is weighed uncooked prior to cooking. Cooked and uncooked pasta noodles weigh different. If you need to lower the carbs use half the amount of pasta and substitute the other half with zoodles or healthy noodles. 

Cajun Seasoning:you can use your favorite creole seasoning or make this homemade Cajun seasoning which is sugar free and delicious. If using store bought you may need to use less seasoning as they tend to be extra salty. 

Half and Half: this recipe calls for fat free half and half. You can substitute with a 50/50 milk and cream, milk and cornstarch to make it thicker, heavy cream or full fat half and half. I would not recommend trying this with almond or coconut milk. 

All Purpose Flour: this recipe used 2 Tbsp. of all purpose flour to create the roux. You can use arrowroot powder or gluten free flour. 

Butter: butter is used to make the roux of this recipe but you can substitute with olive oil as needed. 

Parmesan and Romano Cheese: if you cannot find a bag of shredded parmesan and Romano cheese blend, all parmesan cheese will work for the Cajun shrimp pasta recipe. 

How to make this Cajun Shrimp Pasta with Sausage recipe

Prep your shrimp and Cajun seasoning

Prep your frozen shrimp by placing it in a bowl of luke warm water to defrost. In a small bowl mix together all Cajun seasonings and set aside. 

Boil off the pasta

Boil a large pot of water and cook your bowtie pasta according to the package instructions. When draining the pasta I like to leave a little water in as I add it to the pasta sauce to keep the sauce creamy.

Sauté the shrimp

While the pasta boils add 1 Tbsp. of oil to a large saute pan over medium heat. Add 1 Tbsp. Cajun seasoning to the bowl of raw shrimp and mix together well. Chop your sausage into bite-size pieces. Add the shrimp to the hot pan and sear on one side for a few minutes. Flip and add the sausage. Cook until the shrimp is no longer translucent and fully cooked. Remove the shrimp and sausage from the pan and set aside.

Make the spicy alfredo sauce

In the same pan you cooked the shrimp and sausage add in 2 Tbsp. of butter. Once the butter has melted add garlic and simmer until you begin to smell the garlic. Add 2 Tbsp. flour and stir until you have a thick paste, or roux scaping up all the browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Add 1 Tbsp. Cajun seasoning to the sauce and stir together well. Sprinkle 1/4 cup of cheese in the sauce and mix together well.

Mix together to combine

Add the cooked and drained noodles to the sauce and mix together to evenly coat. I like to keep a small amount of water in the pasta so that it keeps the sauce creamy. Add the shrimp and sausage directly to the pasta and mix together well to coat. Top with chopped parsley and enjoy your creamy shrimp pasta.

How to serve

You can serve the Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta with Sausage alone or with a side salad. Store in the refrigerator in a airtight container for up to 3-4 days. If needed add a little water when reheating to keep it creamy.

Nutrition info

This recipe makes 6 servings of Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta with Sausage. You will need to measure your final cooked pasta dish and divide by the number or servings for the must accurate measurements per serving. 

Nutrition facts for pasta only: 262 calories 10 P / 42 C / 6 F 

Nutrition facts with shrimp and sausage: 444 calories 38 P / 43 C / 13 F 

If you like this recipe be sure to check out some of our other hearty pasta recipes!

• Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta
• Cajun Salmon Pasta
• Fried Spaghetti
• Instant Pot Fettuccine Alfredo
• White Cheddar Mac and Cheese