Creamy Shrimp Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Pasta dishes are always wonderful. There are so many different recipes to choose from and pasta pairs with all kinds of exciting ingredients. Take this Cajun shrimp and sausage pasta. It boasts rich, meaty flavors, a creamy sauce and plenty of wonderful spices.

This is certainly a full-flavored dish and makes a perfect dinner. I’m sure the whole family will love this tasty meal just as much as mine.

It offers some of everything – it’s spicy, creamy, cheese, meaty, and just all-round delicious.

This Cajun pasta recipe would work with pretty much any pasta shape, such as bowtie, penne, pasta spirals, or even thick tagliatelle noodles. If you want to use ribbon pasta like tagliatelle or spaghetti then serve the Cajun sauce on top of a bed of it. If you’re using pasta shapes it’s fine to just mix everything together.

Shrimp and Sausage Pasta Ingredients

The proteins in this Cajun pasta recipe are spicy Andouille sausage and shrimp. Meat and seafood don’t always work together but they do in many dishes. For example, surf ‘n turf or how about an ‘everything pizza’? In this recipe the meat and seafood come together beautifully.

Bell pepper, tomatoes and onion feature as the vegetables in this dish, while Cajun seasoning, chicken broth, Worcestershire sauce, cream, paprika, thyme, sugar, garlic, and pasta also go into the dish. Oh, and you also need parmesan and parsley for garnish.

This might sound like a lot of different ingredients but you probably have most of these in your cupboards and refrigerator already.

1 pound peeled, deveined shrimp (medium size is best)

3 minced garlic cloves

8 ounces uncooked penne or your favorite pasta shapes

2 tablespoons oil (from the jar of sun-dried tomatoes)

¼ teaspoon salt

For the Sauce:

1 cup cooking cream or Half & Half

4 ounces drained, chopped sun-dried tomatoes

½ cup water (from the pasta cooking water)

1 cup shredded mozzarella or sharp cheddar cheese

2 minced garlic cloves, or more if liked

¼ teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon ground paprika

Small handful fresh basil leaves or 1 teaspoon dried basil

¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

How to Make Cajun Pasta

First of all you will sauté the shrimp and then the sausage. At the same time cook the pasta.

In another pan you can cook the remaining ingredients to be the sauce. Finally add the pasta, shrimp and sausage to the sauce and let the dish thicken up. That’s all there is to it!

You can adjust the amount of Cajun seasoning for a stronger or lighter taste. So, what’s in Cajun seasoning?

Well, it’s a rustic seasoning from Louisiana. Ingredients vary according to brand but cayenne pepper, paprika, black pepper, oregano, and garlic powder are typical Cajun seasoning ingredients.

1.    Cook the pasta in boiling water until tender.

2.    Drain the pasta, keeping ½ of the water you cooked it in.

3.    Meanwhile you can heat the oil (from the sun-dried tomatoes jar) in a large pan.

4.    Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.

5.    Add the shrimp and salt and sauté until the shrimp are cooked.

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6.    Remove the shrimp to a bowl.

7.    Turn the heat down a bit.

8.    Add the garlic and sun-dried tomatoes to make the sauce.

9.    Cook for 2 minutes.

10. Mix in the reserved pasta cooking liquid, cheese, cream, paprika, and salt.

11. If you’re using dried basil add it now.

12. Keep cooking and stirring until it starts to thicken up.

13. Now stir the shrimp into the sauce and also the pasta.

14. If you’re using fresh basil add it now.

15. Grind some red pepper flakes on top before serving if liked.

What is Andouille Sausage?

Andouille sausage is a spicy, pork-based sausage from Germany or France (it could be either!) It features in a lot of Cajun recipes from Louisiana including gumbo and jambalaya. In the US, Andouille is double-smoked and highly spiced.

If you can’t find this ingredient where you are, any spiced pork sausage can be used instead. Spanish chorizo has a similar spice level and flavor, or try kielbasa.

What to Serve with Cajun Pasta Recipes

This can be considered a meal-in-one since you have meat, pasta and vegetables combined.

You don’t really need to prepare side dishes if you just want to serve this but a simple green salad is always good with homemade pasta recipes. Garlic bread is good as well if you don’t mind the extra carbs.

How to Store Cajun Style Pasta

This recipe will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for several days or in the refrigerator for up to 3 months.

haw it overnight then warm it back up for about 90 seconds in the microwave. This pasta tastes just as good the following day. In fact the flavors seem even better!

Tips for Perfect Pasta Recipes 

When making any kind of recipe with pasta, it’s important to cook the pasta properly since that’s going to be the main ingredient.

Pasta is best when cooked to al dente which of course means soft but with a tiny bit of ‘bite’ to it still. The pasta isn’t going to be cooked in the sauce for any length of time, just warmed up, so ensure it is al dente after boiling and draining it.

If you are making a pasta sauce from scratch it pays to take your time with it. Whether you are making this easy Cajun pasta sauce or a Bolognese or ragu, let it thicken and simmer for a while. This enriches the flavor and makes it taste even better.

Different shapes of pasta suit different pasta sauces. For example, delicate pasta shapes like linguine are good with light sauces and seafood. Robust ones which are thicker or larger would better suit richer, meatier sauces.

Whether you choose to pair this delicious Cajun pasta recipe with a simple salad or just enjoy a bowlful by itself, you will certainly love the special flavor it offers in every mouthful.