This creamy 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 dinner recipe loaded with simple ingredients. It’s vegetarian, but you can add in cooked sausage or your favorite protein. I love serving this pasta with a big chopped salad or honey jalapeno cornbread for an easy weeknight dinner.
This Spicy Cajun Pasta Sauce Recipe Is
- Creamy
- Fresh
- Spicy
- Earthy
- Warming
- Savory
- Simple
- Ready in 30 minutes, and the sauce cooks in one pan
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!
What’s In This Creamy Cajun Pasta?
I cook with fresh produce from my garden and from Misfits Market– they sell fantastic fruit, vegetables, & pantry staples at a discounted price. We get Misfit boxes every other week and love picking out seasonal produce for delivery. Get $10 off your first box by clicking here!
- 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!
How To Make Cajun Pasta Sauce
- Cook pasta according to package instructions, until the noodles are al dente. Drain and set aside.
- 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.
- 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, add in the coconut milk, lime juice, and fresh parsley.
- 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.
More Easy Flavorful Pasta Recipes You’ll Love
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Creamy Cajun Pasta
Equipment
- Large Pan or skillet
Ingredients
- 16 ounces pasta I used cavatappi
- 1 tablespoon 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 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.
Save on Fresh Groceries & Pantry Staples
I love shopping for fresh produce through Misfits Market. They sell fresh produce, pantry staples, and fantastic groceries (even wine!) at a discounted price. Choose your favorite seasonal produce, enjoy delivery right to your door, & $10 off your first box by clicking here. Getting groceries online has turned out to be a huge time and money saver for us. If you haven't tried a produce box yet, I highly recommend trying one out!Nutrition
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Delicious mix of favors. It really works well