Smoked Sausage Cajun Alfredo (Printable View)

Creamy pasta with smoky sausage, Cajun spices, and Parmesan in a rich Alfredo sauce.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz penne pasta

→ Sausage

02 - 12 oz smoked sausage (andouille or kielbasa), sliced into 1/4-inch rounds

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
04 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Sauce

06 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
07 - 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
08 - 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
09 - 1 tsp Cajun seasoning
10 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
11 - 1/4 tsp smoked paprika (optional)

→ Garnish

12 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley

# How To Make It:

01 - Boil penne in salted water until al dente following package instructions. Drain and set aside.
02 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add sliced smoked sausage and cook 3 to 4 minutes until browned. Remove and set aside.
03 - In the same skillet, melt butter. Sauté onion and red bell pepper 2 to 3 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
04 - Stir in heavy cream, Cajun seasoning, black pepper, and smoked paprika. Bring to a simmer.
05 - Reduce heat to low. Add Parmesan cheese and stir until melted and sauce is smooth.
06 - Return browned sausage to skillet. Add cooked penne and toss to coat evenly with sauce. Adjust seasoning with additional Cajun spice if desired.
07 - Plate pasta garnished with chopped fresh parsley while hot.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Quick 20 minute meal
  • Rich creamy Alfredo sauce with a spicy Cajun kick
02 -
  • Use gluten free pasta to make this recipe gluten free
  • Substitute turkey or chicken sausage for a lighter dish
03 -
  • Brown sausage well to add depth of flavor
  • Don’t overcook pasta; al dente texture works best
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