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Creamy Cajun Shrimp and Sausage Pasta

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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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Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta with Sausage-33

This creamy pasta has all the loud flavors of Cajun spices mixed with juicy shrimp, garlic sausage and tossed in a rich butter sauce. Perfectly spiced, this one can be served for special occasions or thrown together on a busy weeknight.

Using my homemade cajun seasoning keeps the salt content in check and no added sugars or fillers. Make extra to save for Cajun meatball stew, Cajun salmon pasta, and Cajun ranch wings.

If you love easy pasta dinners, try fried spaghetti, lazy lasagna, and Instant Pot fettuccine alfredo,

Why you’ll love this recipe

  • 38 grams of protein.
  • Ready in under 30 minutes. 
  • Succulent shrimp and savory sausage tossed in creamy cajun sauce.

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. 

Pasta ingredients including sausage, oregano, and garlic.
  • Sausage: I used Roasted Red Bell Pepper and Garlic Chicken Sausage. Switch out for any flavor sausage, smoked sausage or andouille sausage.
  • Shrimp: fresh shrimp or frozen shrimp. Opt for large jumbo shrimp, so it doesn’t dry out while cooking. Be sure to buy peeled and deveined shrimp, or you’ll have to do that step yourself.
  • 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. 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.

Variations

  • Add any vegetables, like yellow onion or red bell pepper.
  • This spicy Cajun seasoning has just the right amount of kick. To adjust the heat level, add or take away a tsp. of cayenne pepper.

Dietary Modifications

  • To make this gluten-free, use gluten-free noodles, such as Banza.

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 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: Sautรฉ 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.

Seasoned shrimp cooking in a pan.

Add the shrimp to the hot pan and sear on one side for a few minutes (image 1).

Seasoned shrimp and cut sausage in a pan.

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

Butter and garlic in a pan.

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).

Flour added and turned into a paste.

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).

Half and half added to paste.

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.

Seasonings and cheese added to 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 (image 6).

Step 5: Mix together to combine

Cooked pasta added to the sauce.

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.

Sausage and shrimp added back to the pasta and mixed together.

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.

Creamy Cajun shrimp pasta with sausage on two white plates.

Expert Tip!

Make a double batch of cajun seasoning for all our other Cajun favorites, like Cajun Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo, Cajun Steak Bites and Cajun Salmon Pasta.

Recipe FAQs

What to serve cajun shrimp pasta with?

You can serve the Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta with Sausage alone or with a side salad or broccoli crunch salad.

How to store leftover creamy pasta?

Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Add a splash of broth, milk or water to loosen it up when reheating.

Can I use fresh or frozen shrimp?

You bet! If using frozen, defrost, devien and shell and pat dry before cooking. If using fresh shrimp be sure to devein and deshell and pat dry before using.

Can I use other noodles in this recipe?

Use your favorite shape, size and even gluten-free noodles!

What to do if my sauce is too thick?

Add a little extra pasta water, water, milk or chicken stock or broth to thin it out.

If you make this recipe, please leave a rating and/or comment! Tag me on Instagram @ohsnapmacros, I love hearing from you!

Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta with Sausage-33

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
Servings 6 servings
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Course Main Course
Cuisine American

๐Ÿ“ฑ MyFitnessPal & MacrosFirst App Users

You can find this recipe and many others on MyFitnessPal and MacrosFirst by searching: Ohsnapmacros – Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta with Sausage

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lbs. ย 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 ย (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. ย Onion Powder
  • 1 Tbsp. ย 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.ย 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.ย 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.ย  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.ย 
  • 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.ย 
  • 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.ย 
  • 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.ย 
  • 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.ย 
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 whatโ€™s recommended and adjust to your liking.

Nutrition

Serving: 270gCalories: 444kcalCarbohydrates: 43gProtein: 38gFat: 13gFiber: 1.7g
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

31 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Giving this 5-stars and a word of caution- don’t try to use store bought creole seasoning. It will be way too salty!! Even so- I see the potential of this recipe and I know my fiance and I will enjoy it immensely next time I make it according to the instructions ๐Ÿ™‚

    1. Yes! I totally agree, that’s why I usually make my own. So glad you liked it despite the salt explosion. ๐Ÿ™‚

  2. 5 stars
    My picky teenagers said โ€œheck yes!โ€ When I asked if I should make this one again! Only comment was maybe less spice, but he said it was still great even with the heat.

  3. 5 stars
    This recipe was so good! I made it for my meal prep for the week and ate it for 6 days it reheated well. Will be making again soon

  4. 5 stars
    This is my whole family’s new favorite recipe…they constantly ask for it. Easy to make and so incredibly delicious!

  5. 5 stars
    We love this meal. I do omit some of the Cajun spice because of my toddler but itโ€™s still toddler approved!!! Thank you!

  6. 5 stars
    Another delicious meal to add to the lineup! I used smoked Turkey sausage since I had that in fridge and it turned out delicious!! Kids loved it as well!!

4.96 from 23 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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