Creamy Cajun Pasta Recipe

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!

An Easy Cajun Pasta Recipe

This Cajun creamy pasta is the tastiest, freshest dinner recipe. It’s perfect for a hearty meal for the family, and also great option to make for company if you are having guests for dinner.

It makes a great holiday pasta dish as well – a simple vegetarian recipe to serve with a salad. It takes only 30 minutes to cook, so you can enjoy extra time to prep sides or a salad. Browse all our pasta recipes here to find your next favorite!

• Cavatappi Pasta – this is one of my favorite pasta shapes, especially paired with a creamy sauce like this. Cavatappi is easy to scoop up with your fork, and is ridged to get the sauce in every last crevasse.
• Cajun or Creole Seasoning – I like using a spicy Cajun seasoning which has garlic, oregano, onion, cayenne pepper, paprika and bell peppers! Tony Chachere’s seasoning works great.
• Olive Oil: I like to use this fruity Zoe olive oil which has a fantastic flavor and deep color- it’s really inexpensive online here, so I keep a few liters stocked up in my pantry. For the quality of oil you get, it’s an excellent value, I would highly recommend!
• Bell Peppers – I used fresh yellow and red bell pepper – but you can use green or any kind you have on hand.
• Red Onion
• Diced Tomatoes:  I only use no salt added diced tomatoes, these boxed tomatoes are really great to stock up on! I like boxed tomatoes better because they are BPA free and more eco-friendly than aluminum cans.
• 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.

30 Minute Pasta Recipes for Dinner

This non dairy Cajun Creole pasta is what I call a Quick Weeknight Meal which is on your table in 30 minutes or less.  These easy and simple recipes are perfect for those nights when you want a home-cooked meal but don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen. 

You can browse all of our 30 minute recipes that are great for the whole family. A tasty meal can be on your table in no time, it’s even faster than ordering takeout!

1. Cook pasta according to package instructions, until the noodles are al dente. Drain and set aside.
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. 
3. Add the chopped bell pepper and jalapeno, along with the Cajun seasoning and stir well to combine.
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.
5. Once vegetables are tender, add in the coconut milk, lime juice, and fresh parsley.
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. Serve immediately, and store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2 days in the refrigerator.

Cooking Tips

• If you sauce is too thin, you can add a little extra heavy cream, vegetable stock, or chicken broth.
• You can add in your favorite protein – blackened chicken, cooked fresh shrimp, Andouille sausage, ot top with parmesan cheese.
• 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!

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.