Creamy Cajun Shrimp and Sausage Pasta

This Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta with Sausage is a weeknight winner. Spicy, creamy sauce with buttery shrimp topped with roasted red bell pepper chicken sausage creates a melt in your mouth flavor bomb that's ready in less than 30 minutes.

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This simple and easy restaurant-quality meal is ready in under 30 minutes making it perfect for a busy weeknight. You’ll love a big bowl of tender shrimp and crispy sausage with the best creamy and spicy cajun alfredo sauce in every bite. 

If you love easy pasta dinners like Fried Spaghetti, Lazy Lasagna, and Instant Pot Fettuccine Alfredo, this Cajun Shrimp Pasta is a must-try. It’s all about the sugar-free cajun seasoning and this one will not disappoint.

Shrimp: fresh or frozen?

While fresh is always the best option, I like using large, deveined, peeled frozen shrimp to save on time and did you know that the majority of the time the shrimp you get behind the counter at the grocery store was previously frozen as well?

Alternatively, you can use pre-cooked shrimp. Coat it in the Cajun seasoning and use the pan to heat it without overcooking and set aside until the end when you combine the creamy Cajun pasta dish.

Shrimp is a delicious, easy and a low-fat way to add tons of protein to any dish. I love it in creamy coconut shrimp curry and arir fryer shrimp tacos for quick and easy weeknight meals.

Ingredients and Substitutions:

These are the main ingredients for this cajun shrimp pasta. See the recipe card below for the full ingredients list and instructions. 

• 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!
• Shrimp: fresh shrimp or frozen work fine. Opt for large shrimp.
• Bowtie Pasta: any preferred noodle works as well as gluten-free.
• 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: can be substituted for whole milk or heavy cream to keep the sauce nice and thick.
• Noodles: you can use any shape, size, and type of pasta you want. Use linguine of fettuccini for an alfredo pasta feel or penne pasta which fills with the sauce.

How to make this Cajun Shrimp Pasta with Sausage (a visual step-by-step guide):

Step 1: Prep your shrimp and Cajun seasoning

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

Step 2: 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 pasta water in as I add it to the pasta sauce to keep the sauce creamy.

Step 3: Sauté the shrimp

While the pasta boils add 1 Tbsp. of oil to a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 Tbsp. Sugar-free 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 (image 1).

Flip and add the sausage. Cook until the shrimp is no longer translucent and fully cooked (image 2). Remove the shrimp and sausage from the pan and set aside.

Step 4: 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 (image 3).

Add 2 Tbsp. flour and stir until you have a thick paste or roux scraping up all the browned bits from the bottom of the pan (image 4).

Slowly add the half and half a little as a time to the roux and whisk until the flour is no longer chunky and the sauce begins to thicken. This takes approximately 5 minutes (image 5). Remove from the heat.

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 (image 6).

Step 5: Mix together to combine

Add the cooked and drained noodles to the sauce and mix together to evenly coat (image 7). 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 (image 8).

Step 6: Serve and enjoy!

Serve topped with chopped parsley, freshly grated parmesan cheese or red pepper flakes for an extra little kick. Add a side salad or Broccoli Crunch Salad for some greens.

Recipe FAQ’s

Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta with Sausage

Danielle Lima

This Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta with Sausage is a weeknight winner. Spicy, creamy sauce with buttery shrimp topped with roasted red bell pepper chicken sausage creates a melt in your mouth flavor bomb that's ready in less than 30 minutes.

4.96 from 23 votes

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings 6 servings

Calories 444 kcal

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Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• ▢ 1 lbs.  frozen medium size shrimp (deveined with tails off Waterfront Bistro brand)
• ▢ 4 Roasted Red Pepper and Garlic Chicken Sausage Links sliced, (Open Nature Brand)
• ▢ 10 oz. Bow Tie Pasta, Farfalle (Barilla uncooked)
• ▢ 1 Tbsp. Olive Oil
• ▢ 2 Tbsp. butter
• ▢ 1 garlic clove minced
• ▢ 2 Tbsp. All-Purpose Flour
• ▢ 1 1/3 cup Fat Free Half and Half (300ml)
• ▢ 1/4 cup Parmesan & Romano Shredded Cheese  (28g)
• ▢ 1 Tbsp. Cajun Seasoning (for shrimp)
• ▢ 1 Tbsp. Cajun Seasoning (for sauce)
• ▢ Chopped Parsley for garnish

Cajun Seasoning

• ▢ 3 Tbsp. Smoked Paprika
• ▢ 1.5 Tbsp. Salt
• ▢ 2 Tbsp. Garlic Powder
• ▢ 1 Tbsp.  Onion Powder
• ▢ 1 Tbsp.  dried Oregano
• ▢ 1 Tbsp. Cayenne Pepper
• ▢ 1 tsp. fresh ground black pepper

Instructions

 

Deforst Shrimp (if needed)

• If using frozen shrimp, defrost your frozen shrimp by placing it in a bowl of luke warm water to defrost. This takes 10-15 minutes. Once defrosted, shell devein and pat dry.

Make Cajun Seasoning

• In a small bowl mix together all Cajun seasonings and set aside. Please note you will have leftover seasoning and will not use all of this here.

Boil Pasta

• Boil a pot of water and cook your pasta according to the package instructions. When draining the pasta I like to leave a little pasta water in as I add it to the pasta sauce to keep the sauce creamy.  While the pasta boils, make the shrimp, sausage and sauce.

Cajun Shrimp Pasta

• Add 1 Tbsp. Cajun seasoning to the bowl of thawed shrimp and mix together well to evenly coat.
• Add 1 Tbsp. of oil to a pan over medium. 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, approximately 5 minutes total. Remove the shrimp and sausage from the pan and set aside. 
• In the same pan you cooked the shrimp and sausage add in 2 Tbsp. of butter. Once the butter has melted add garlic and sautee for 30-60 seconds until fragrant. Add 2 Tbsp. flour and stir until you have a thick paste, or roux. 
• Slowly add the half and half a little as a time to the roux and whisk until the flour is no longer chunky and the sauce begins to thicken. This takes approximately 3-5 minutes. Remove from the heat.
• 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 until melted. 
• 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 cajun sauce nice and creamy.
• Add the shrimp and sausage directly to the pasta and mix together well to coat. Top with chopped parsley.

Notes

• Nutritional information is an estimate and will vary with substitutions. 
• If too watery, leave on the stove for longer to thicken up or add flour in small amounts until desired consistency.
• If meal prepping, add more milk or half and half in the morning if needed.
• Switch out the sausage for your favorite flavor. 

If using store-bought seasoning vs. homemade you will want to use less seasoning as they tend to be very salty. Start with half or what’s recommended and adjust to your liking.

Nutrition

Serving: 270gCalories: 444kcalCarbohydrates: 43gProtein: 38gFat: 13gFiber: 1.7g

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