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Vegetarian Cajun Pasta Recipe

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This vegetarian Cajun pasta recipe is bright & flavorful, with onions, bell peppers, fresh herbs & spicy sauce. A fantastic meal loaded with flavor in each bite from delicious Cajun seasoning.

Ready in 30 minutes, this pasta is a tasty plant-based dinner recipe loaded with simple ingredients. Easily make this recipe vegan by swapping one ingredient below!

Want more cozy vegetarian pasta ideas? Try our lemon ricotta pasta, gnocchi cacio e pepe, or our 20-minute sour cream alfredo!

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This easy Cajun pasta sauce with peppers and onions is a yummy recipe that is a favorite on our homestead! It has the perfect amount of creaminess and heat, and is loaded with Cajun seasonings for a fantastic flavor in each bite.

The pasta is a delicious blend of roasted peppers, tomatoes, and onions tossed with a perfectly cooked noodles – I used cavatappi, but you can use penne pasta or any type of pasta you have on hand. This creamy Cajun spice pasta is one if our favorite pasta dishes: loaded with tender pasta, colorful veggies, and it’s an easy dinner recipe we love!

Why This Recipe Works

  • It’s creamy, spicy, and easy to make!
  • Ready in 30 minutes, it makes a quick weeknight meal.
  • It’s simple and cooks of any skill level can successfully make this dish.
  • Make this pasta sauce as spicy (or mild!) as you like.
  • The sauce cooks in one pan, making it perfect for easy clean up.
  • A hearty vegetarian dinner recipe that the whole family will love – and easily made vegan.

Ingredients You’ll Need

vegetarian cajun pasta recipe ingredients like pasta, bell peppers, onions, cajun seasoning, tomatoes and tomato paste and fresh herbs.
  • Pasta – I used cavatappi (one of my favorite pasta shapes), especially paired with a creamy sauce like this. Cavatappi is easy to scoop with your fork, and is ridged to get the sauce in every last crevasse.
  • Cajun or Creole Seasoning â€“ I like using a spicy Cajun seasoning which has garlic, oregano, onion, cayenne pepper, paprika and bell peppers! Tony Chachere’s seasoning works great.
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • Bell Peppers â€“ I used fresh yellow and red bell pepper – but you can use green or any kind you have on hand.
  • Red Onion
  • Diced Tomatoes
  • Garlic – I use fresh garlic cloves for my recipes, but you can substitute jarred garlic or garlic powder instead.
  • Heavy Cream or Coconut Milk: I use heavy cream, or for a dairy free version you can use unsweetened full-fat coconut milk. It makes this dish super rich and creamy without any dairy. You could also use cream cheese too, which gives an extra tangy flavor.

Be sure to visit the recipe card below for full ingredient amounts and recipe instructions!

How to Make This Recipe

cooked cavatappi pasta in a pot ready to make cajun pasta without meat!

Step 1: Cook pasta according to package instructions, until the noodles are al dente. Drain and set aside.

a pot with sauteeing onions and garlic with a little olive oil as a pasta sauce base.

Step 2: In a large pan heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the chopped garlic and diced onion, and sauté for 4 to 5 minutes until translucent. 

a pot with vegetarian creole pasta ingredients like onions, jalapeno peppers, and bell peppers being sauteed until brown.

Step 3: Add the chopped bell pepper and jalapeno, along with the Cajun seasoning and stir well to combine.

a pot with bell peppers, diced tomatoes, and tomato paste being simmered for a plant based cajun pasta sauce.

Step 4: To the sauce, add the tomato paste, diced tomatoes with juices, salt, and the water or vegetable stock. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes.

vegetarian creole pasta sauce with cream, parsley, tomatoes, peppers, and onions, waiting for pasta.

Step 5: Once vegetables are tender, add in the coconut milk, lime juice, and fresh parsley. Stir well to combine.

vegan dairy free creole pasta recipe easy plant based cajun pasta with peppers onions garlic and tomato coconut sauce spicy pasta ideas

Step 6: Add the cooked pasta into the sauce, and heat for 5 minutes until pasta is hot and cooked through. Taste, adding salt or black pepper as desired.

Recipe FAQs

What makes this pasta “Cajun”?

This recipe uses many vegetables found in Cajun cooking like onions, bell pepper, and garlic. The sauce also has Cajun seasoning, which is a blend of spices like paprika, garlic and onion powders, cayenne, and dried herbs – which gives the pasta a smoky and slightly spicy kick!

How to adjust the spice level

For a milder sauce, you can reduce the amount of Cajun seasoning in the sauce or remove the seeds of the jalapeno peppers (or omit the peppers altogether). For more heat, add extra cayenne or additional jalapeno peppers.

Can you make this cajun pasta vegan?

Absolutely! Just substitute the cream with a plant-based alternative like coconut milk or cashew cream for a vegan-friendly version.

Expert Tips

  • If the sauce is too thick, you can add a little extra heavy cream, vegetable stock, or chicken broth to thin in out.
  • You can add in your favorite protein – I like using a crispy baked tofu with cornstarch for extra plant-based protein. Drained black beans, chickpeas, or kidney beans would be excellent additions.
  • To make this recipe extra spicy, add red pepper flakes before serving. The heat can depend on the spice level of your Cajun seasoning – so always taste the sauce first!
cajun pasta without cream easy vegan creole pasta with peppers and onions recipe for dinner

Dietary Modifications

  • This recipe is vegetarian. To make it vegan and dairy free, you can swap out the heavy whipping cream for coconut milk.
  • To make this recipe gluten free, ensure you use a certified gluten free pasta, and make sure all seasonings  you use are also certified gluten free.

More Meatless Pasta Ideas

Let’s connect on social!

If you made this recipe, please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. I’d love to hear from you!

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Vegetarian Cajun Pasta

This creamy vegetarian pasta recipe is bright, spicy, and an absolutely delicious dinner! With onions, bell pepper, and a creamy sauce. A fantastic pasta loaded with flavor, and a great meatless dinner idea.
5 from 3 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Dinner, Pasta
Cuisine American, Cajun, Creole
Servings 8 servings
Calories 323 kcal

Equipment

  • Large Pot
  • Large Pan or skillet

Ingredients
  

  • 16 ounces pasta I used cavatappi
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 large sweet onion diced
  • 1 jalapeno peppers *see note below
  • 1.5 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
  • 3 ounces tomato paste
  • 14 ounces Diced Tomatoes with juice
  • 1 cup water or vegetable stock
  • 1/2 teaspoon Sea Salt
  • 1 cup heavy cream *see substitutions below in Notes
  • 2 limes juiced
  • 1/2 bunch parsley chopped

Instructions
 

  • Cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
  • In a large pan heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped garlic and onions, and sauté for 4 to 5 minutes until translucent.
  • Add the chopped bell pepper and jalapeno, along with the Cajun seasoning and stir well to combine.
  • To the sauce, add the tomato paste, diced tomatoes with juices, salt, and the water or vegetable stock. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes.
  • Once vegetables are tender, remove from heat and add in the coconut milk, lime juice, and fresh parsley.
  • Add the cooked pasta into the sauce, and simmer for 1-2 minutes until pasta is hot and cooked through. Taste, adding salt or pepper as desired. Serve immediately.

Notes

Dietary Modifications and Substitutions

  • This recipe is vegetarian. To make it vegan and dairy free, you can swap out the heavy whipping cream for coconut milk.
  • To make this recipe gluten free, ensure you use a certified gluten free pasta, and make sure all seasonings  you use are also certified gluten free.

A Note On Heat

  • The heat from jalapenos is in the seeds and inner membranes. If you want a milder pasta, remove the seeds. If you want a spicier pasta, chop the jalapenos and leave the seeds in.

Nutrition

Calories: 323kcalCarbohydrates: 53gProtein: 10gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gSodium: 248mgPotassium: 497mgFiber: 4gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 900IUVitamin C: 17mgCalcium: 57mgIron: 3mg
Did You Make This Recipe?Please leave a rating and comment below, let us know what you loved about it!

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5 from 3 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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