Creamy Cajun Sausage Pasta

This cajun sausage pasta is creamy, spicy and utterly delicious! The smooth and flavorful sauce is made with light cream cheese, and you can have it on the table in just 30 minutes.

We love creamy and spicy pasta dishes in our home, and this cajun sausage pasta has become a quick favorite around here.

Even though it looks like a rich, decadent dish, it's actually made without any heavy cream at all. The delicious cajun-flavored sauce has light cream cheese and low-fat cheddar in it, yet it's still scrumptious.

I used a shop-bought cajun seasoning to make this healthy cajun chicken pasta, but you can definitely use your own mix.

This is a medium spicy pasta dish, but you can easily adjust the heat to suit your family's preferences.

Why you'll love this creamy cajun sausage pasta

• Creamy yet light - This cajun sausage pasta is smooth and creamy without any heavy cream.
• Easy to make - It only takes 30 minutes to whip together this delicious pasta dish.
• Super flavorful - The sausage pairs perfectly with the cajun seasoning and garlic for a super tasty dish.

What goes into cajun sausage alfredo?

Olive oil - You only need a splash of olive oil to cook the sausage in. If you're using a non-stick pan, you can skip it, as the sausage should leave enough fat to cook the shallot and red bell pepper in.

Sausage - I used a mild Italian sausage in this pasta, but if you can take the heat, you can use a hot sausage.

Just remember that the cajun seasoning will also add heat. Andouille sausage is also a great choice for this cajun alfredo sauce.

Shallot - Shallot has a mild flavor and cooks quickly, which makes it perfect for this recipe.

Red bell pepper - Use any color of bell pepper you want in this pasta and slice it quite finely, so it cooks quickly.

Garlic - There's no such thing as too much garlic in a creamy pasta sauce like this, so feel free to adjust the quantity to your likening.

Oregano - Dried oregano complements the cajun seasoning quite nicely.

Cajun seasoning - A shop-bought cajun seasoning is fine here, but you can also use your favorite homemade mix if you like. It's best to choose a cajun spice mix that's low in salt for this recipe.

Tomato paste - I keep this cajun pasta sauce smooth by using tomato paste instead of diced tomatoes. You can use both if you like.

Cream cheese - I made the sauce with light Philadelphia cream cheese.

Parmesan - It's always best to grate your own Parmesan cheese using a fine grater.

Pasta - The pasta you see in the pictures is called lumaca rigata, a type of snail-like pasta that's terrific for sauces such as this because it has the perfect shape for them to cling to.

Any other type of short pasta would do here, with shells, fusilli and penne pasta all being great choices.

How to make creamy cajun sausage pasta

Bring a large pot of water to a boil, salt it generously and cook the pasta al dente according to the instructions on the package. Reserve 2-3 cups of pasta water before draining.

Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large, deep pan or Dutch oven and fry the sausage for 4-5 minutes over medium heat, breaking it down with your spoon as it cooks.

Add the shallot and red pepper and continue to cook for 2-3 minutes until the veggies soften.

Stir in the garlic, oregano and Cajun seasoning and cook for another minute.

Next, add the tomato paste and stir to combine. Add 1 cup of the reserved pasta water and allow the sauce to bubble for a minute.

Add the cream cheese and stir until completely melted.

Transfer the cooked pasta to the pot and toss to cover in sauce. Stir in the grated Parmesan and fresh parsley, then season to taste and serve immediately.

Leftovers and storage

• This cajun sausage pasta is best served immediately.
• Leftovers will keep well in the fridge for up to 3 days in an airtight container. You can reheat them in the microwave or on the stovetop. You may need to add some broth if there's not enough liquid left.
• I don't recommend freezing this pasta.

Recipe notes and tips

• Make sure you don't overcook the pasta - you need it to be just al dente because it will continue to absorb the sauce, and you don't want it to be mushy.
• You can add some rotisserie chicken or leftover roast chicken to this dish for extra protein.
• Use gluten-free pasta as needed for this recipe.

If you liked this creamy cajun sausage pasta recipe, you might also like some of my other quick and easy pasta recipes:

• Spinach Artichoke Pasta
• Pink Sauce Pasta
• Salmon Alfredo Pasta
• Easy Kielbasa Pasta
• Sausage and Fennel Pasta

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