This creamy Cajun Shrimp and Sausage Pasta is a delicious, crowd-pleasing dinner option! Shrimp, sausages and fettuccine are cooked in a flavorful creamy tomato sauce to make this comforting Southern classic. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve with grated parmesan.
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Creamy, spicy and delicious. This is officially my new favorite pasta dish because the creamy tomato sauce is seasoned to perfection and it includes juicy shrimp, sausage and parmesan! Seriously, what's not to love?
If you are a shrimp and pasta lover like me, then you will also love this creamy tomato and shrimp pasta. You can also try my Cajun chicken bowl, Cajun Honey Butter Salmon and One-Pot Cajun Jambalaya Pasta.
What You Should Try This Recipe
Nothing beats a warm bowl of pasta. This shrimp and sausage pasta meal ticks all of the boxes.
- This Cajun shrimp and sausage pasta is quick to make, so you can make it during busy weeknights.
- This is a great family dinner option as it feeds five.
- The shrimp and sausage add delicious flavor to every bite.
- The Cajun creamy tomato sauce is easy to make and will have you drooling!
Ingredients
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Shrimp and Sausage
- Shrimp: Use fresh large shrimp for this Cajun shrimp and sausage pasta recipe. Make sure you devein the shrimp before cooking. If you are using frozen shrimp, let it thaw completely before cooking.
- Cajun: This can be found in most supermarkets or online. You can also use Creole seasoning instead.
- Andouille: Use andouille sausage, smoked sausage or any other sausage you choose. I used chicken sausages.
- Olive oil: For cooking.
Pasta
- Fettuccine: This is the pasta that is typically used for this pasta. However, you can swap it with spaghetti, linguine, penne, tagliatelle or any other pasta of your choice.
- Water: Ensure the water is boiling before adding the pasta to the pot.
Pasta Sauce
- Onion: Thinly slice one white onion.
- Garlic: Mince garlic cloves using a knife or garlic mincer. You can also grate the garlic.
- Bell/capsicum peppers: Select fresh peppers without bruises for this recipe. Use red and yellow bell peppers to add vibrant color and fresh flavors to the dish.
- Tomatoes: For this Cajun shrimp and sausage pasta recipe, use crushed tomatoes. You can buy crushed tomatoes or add fresh tomatoes to a blender and pulse them a few times to crush them.
- Heavy cream: Full-fat cream works best. This will give the sauce a creamy consistency. Low-fat cream may not thicken as much.
- Chicken broth: I always have homemade chicken broth to hand; however you can also use shop-bought chicken broth.
- Cajun seasoning: Select good quality seasoning for the best flavor.
- Pepper (paprika and cayenne): I like spicy food, so I added paprika and cayenne pepper to the sauce. However, if you are not a fan of heat then omit them.
- Brown sugar: For sweetness.
- Worcestershire: Adds more delicious savory flavor to the dish.
- Thyme: Use dried or fresh thyme to add a herby flavor.
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- Parmesan: Grate fresh parmesan and add it to the sauce. Feel free to serve the pasta with more parmesan.
- Parsley: Chop fresh parsley for garnish.
- Olive oil: For cooking.
Tip and Substitutions
- Pasta: Do not overcook the pasta when boiling. Make sure the pasta still has some bite because it will soften once it is combined with the creamy tomato sauce.
- Marinate: If you have extra time, marinate the shrimp in the fridge for 30 minutes before cooking. This will help the shrimp to absorb the seasoning.
- Seasoning: Make sure you taste the sauce as you go along and add less or more of the seasoning to suit your taste.
- Sausage: This is a Cajun dish, so andouille is the sausage of choice. However, if you can't find any or don't eat pork then swap this for chicken, beef or vegan sausages instead.
Recipe Variations
If you don't have any cream to hand or are not a fan of creamy pasta, then you can remove it from the recipe. Follow the same steps and you'll get delicious shrimp and sausage pasta with a tomato base.
Conversely, you can also omit the crushed tomatoes and cook the pasta in a creamy sauce instead. Follow the same steps in the recipe.
If you want to control the amount of cheese in the dish, then don't add parmesan to the sauce when cooking. Serve the pasta with parmesan instead.
How to Make Cajun Shrimp and Sausage Pasta
- Marinate shrimp with Cajun seasoning, salt to taste and black pepper to taste. Heat a splash of oil in a large saucepan and cook on both sides for 2-3 minutes. Once the shrimp is done remove it from the pan and set aside for later.
2. Next, cook sausage in a pan for 5-7 minutes or until done. Remove from the heat and set aside. Meanwhile, bring water to a boil in a saucepan, add fettuccine and cook for 7-9 minutes.
3. Heat a splash of oil in the same pan, add sliced onions and minced garlic. Cook for 2-3 minutes or until fragrant.
4. Then add bell peppers to the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes.
5. Pour crushed tomatoes into the pan.
6. Then, add heavy cream.
7. Pour chicken broth into the pan.
8. Add brown sugar, Cajun seasoning, paprika, cayenne pepper, thyme, Worcestershire sauce, salt to taste, and black pepper to taste and stir. Let the sauce simmer and thicken for 3-5 minutes.
9. Let the sauce has thicken.
10. Then, add parmesan cheese and stir.
11. Add pasta to the creamy tomato sauce. Stir and cook for 2-3 minutes.
12. Then add the shrimp and sausages.
13. Stir again and remove from the heat.
14. Garnish pasta with fresh chopped parsley and serve.
9. Serve this mouth-watering Cajun Shrimp and Sausage Pasta for dinner with Sticky Oven Chicken Thighs BBQ!
Recipe FAQs
This is French smoked pork sausage that has a distinctive sharp and smokey flavor.
I prefer to use cajun seasoning that does not contain sodium. This way I am able to control the amount of salt in the dish.
This pasta is best served fresh. However, it can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Reheat it in the microwave.
Cajun seasoning originates from the south of America. It includes paprika, cayenne, garlic powder, peppers, oregano and thyme. You can also make your own blend.
More Tasty Pasta Recipes
Cajun Shrimp and Sausage Pasta
Equipment
- Saucepan
Ingredients
Shrimp and Sausage
- 2 cups of large shrimp cleaned and deveined
- 3 teaspoon Cajun or Creole seasoning
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- 2 cups andouille or any other sausage of your choice
- Olive oil
Fettucine
- 400 g fettuccine
- Water
- Salt to taste
Pasta Sauce
- 1 onion sliced
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- ½ red bell pepper sliced
- ½ yellow bell pepper sliced
- 2 cups of crushed tomatoes
- ¾ cup of heavy cream
- 1 cup of chicken broth
- 1.5 tablespoon Cajun or Creole seasoning
- 1 teaspoon of paprika
- 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
- 1.5 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tsp or Worcestershire
- 1 teaspoon thyme
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- ½ cup of parmesan grated
- parsley for garnish chopped
- Olive oil
Instructions
- Marinate shrimp with Cajun seasoning, salt to taste and black pepper to taste in a bowl.
- Heat a splash of oil in a large saucepan and cook on both sides on medium heat for 2-3 minutes. Once the shrimp is ready remove them from the pan and set aside for later.
- Next, cook sausage in a pan for 5-7 minutes or until done. Remove from the heat and set aside.
- Meanwhile, bring water to a boil in a separate saucepan, add fettuccine and cook for 7-9 minutes. Drain out the water when done.
- As the pasta cooks, heat a splash of oil on a medium heat in the same pan used to cook the shrimp, add sliced onions and minced garlic. Stir and cook for 2-3 minutes or until fragrant. Then add bell peppers to the pan and cook for another 2-3 minutes.
- Pour crushed tomatoes and heavy cream and chicken broth into the pan and stir.
- Add brown sugar, Cajun seasoning, paprika, cayenne pepper, thyme, Worcestershire sauce, salt to taste, black pepper to taste and stir. Leave the sauce to simmer and thicken for 3-5 minutes.
- Once the sauce has thickened add grated parmesan cheese and stir.
- Add pasta to the sauce then stir and cook for 2-3 minutes. Finally, add the shrimp and sausages, stir again and remove from the heat.
- Garnish pasta with fresh chopped parsley and serve shrimp and sausage pasta with grated parmesan.
Notes
- Pasta: Do not overcook the pasta. Make sure the pasta still has some bite before adding it the sauce because it will soften even more when it is combined with the creamy tomato sauce.
- Marinate: If you have extra time, marinate the shrimp in the fridge for 30 minutes before cooking for more flavor.
- Sausage: This is a Cajun dish, so andouille is the sausage of choice. However, if you can't find any or don't eat pork then swap this for chicken, beef or vegan sausages instead.
Marta
My family loved this shrimp and sausage pasta. I left out the cayenne because my daughter is sensitive to spice, but it was still amazing; especially the sauce!
Robin
This dish was perfect for a busy weeknight dinner! I substituted the sausage for a vegan version which did not diminish the results - amazing!
Jazz
Five stars! This pasta tasted better than our favorite restaurant and everyone cleaned their plates. I added some baby spinach at the end for extra fiber and will be making it again!
Dee
This recipe for shrimp and sausage pasta looks absolutely delicious! I appreciate that the recipe is easy to follow and uses simple ingredients. I can't wait to give this recipe a try and add it to my collection of pasta dishes. Thanks for sharing!