Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta with Sausage Recipe

Highlights of The Cajun Shrimp Pasta

• Simple cream sauce: cream and parmesan are simmered together to create a rich, cheesy sauce. Flavored with Cajun seasoning, this pasta sauce is virtually impossible to mess up and its delicious! This sauce gives the pasta a beautiful golden color.
• Protein packed: loaded with shrimp and sausage this dish has plenty of protein to keep you full for hours. Pair this with a protein pasta for even more fiber and nutrients.
• Customizable: make this dish more or less spicy to your liking by adding in extra Cajun seasoning or other spices. You can also add in other veggies like bell peppers or squash. Any type of pasta can be used, for extra cheesy flavor, use cheese tortellini!
• Family favorite: Kids and adults will love this loaded pasta, serve family style for an effortless meal. Pair with a simple lettuce salad and some warm bread or bread sticks for a complete meal.

Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta with Sausage Recipe

This is a major comfort meal that you will crave on any chilly fall or winter night! I love the combination of sweet, mild shrimp with the fatty slightly spicy sausage. Canned tomatoes add in some freshness and color, paired with a Cajun cream sauce that ties the dish together.

Garnish your pasta with lots of fresh parsley and an extra sprinkle of parmesan cheese. Serve alongside a fresh Kale Salad or some warm Garlic Knots!

Ingredient List & Substitutions

This easy Cajun pasta is made with simple ingredients, many you probably already have on hand in your fridge or pantry. If there is a substitution for an ingredient, you’ll find it below:

• Pasta: any shape of noodle will work here, I recommend a tube shaped or shell shaped pasta to hold the cream sauce. Examples would be elbow macaroni noodles, rigatoni, penne, mini shells, ziti. Use cheese tortellini for extra cheesy flavor.
• Butter: salted or unsalted butter will work, if using salted butter you may not need to add as much kosher salt to the seasoning. I don’t recommend using margarine as it can be to watery.
• Raw shrimp: I recommend raw shrimp for this recipe, you can buy it already peeled and deveined or do that yourself. Try to buy larger shrimp as they will shrink down while cooking. Fresh shrimp or frozen shrimp will both work, I do not recommend pre-cooked shrimp.
• Cajun seasoning blend: use store-bought or homemade Cajun seasoning. A homemade seasoning blend can be made with paprika, salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, dried oregano, cayenne, and dried thyme. 
• Mild Italian sausage: mild or spicy sausage will work here, use ground beef or plain ground pork as a substitute. I like the additional spices in Italian sausage.
• Diced tomatoes: canned tomatoes are a easy short cut that add color and flavor, any type of diced or petite diced tomatoes will work. If you can find fire roasted or garlic and olive oil blends they will add additional flavor.
• Heavy cream: I like the richness of the heavy whipping cream. Or use half and half, whole milk, or 2%milk.
• Parmesan: I highly recommend a fresh grated parmesan cheese, it’s not overly heavy but adds a nice flavor. Gruyere cheese, Colby jack, Monterey jack, or cheddar cheese could be a substitute.
• Fresh parsley: a sprinkle of chopped fresh parsley finishes off the dish well. This is optional but adds nice color and a touch of mild flavor.

How to Make The Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta Recipe

Let’s talk a little about how to make the Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta with Sausage Recipe (The printable instructions are in the recipe card below.)

Quick Overview:

• Sauté shrimp and sausage in butter, season with Cajun seasoning.
• Add in tomatoes and cream, let simmer and mix in parmesan cheese.
• Toss with cooked pasta and enjoy!

1. Cook noodles in a large pot of salted water according to package instructions, set aside.
2. In a large skillet heat butter over medium-high heat until melted. Add in the raw shrimp and Cajun seasoning. Sauté for 2-3 minutes or until the shrimp start to turn pink. *Add as much Cajun spice as desired.

3. Add in the ground Italian sausage and sauté until cooked through. To the pan add in the tomatoes and heavy cream, stir to combine. Let simmer over medium heat for 3-4 minutes to thicken. Sprinkle in the parmesan cheese and stir to melt.

4. Add in the cooked noodles, toss to combine, and serve garnished with fresh parsley and extra parmesan cheese.

Tools I Use For This Pasta Dish

• Large Sauté pan: I love this non-stick sauté pan for several things, it is oven safe making it perfect for skillet meals that need to cook on the stove and bake in the oven. I like the high walls of the pan for keeping messes at bay.
• Wooden Spoons – perfect for sautéing and mixing, and great for not scratching your pans. Remember to deep clean your wooden utensils once a month!
• Pairing knife: I love these boxwood kitchen knives by Pallares Solsona, the carbon steel stays sharp for a while and I just love the look and design.

Storage & Reheating

This shrimp and spicy sausage pasta can easily be stored and reheated as leftovers, making it great for meal prep. Allow cooked pasta to cool completely and transfer to an airtight container, store in the fridge for 3-4 days.

To reheat, warm pasta in a skillet over medium-high heat, in the oven at 350 degrees F, or in the microwave in a microwave-safe dish until warm. If the creamy sauce gets too thick, thin with a little heavy cream.

Cajun seasoned shrimp in a creamy Cajun sauce tossed with your favorite pasta, what’s not to love! Perfect for busy weeknights, the sauce comes together quickly with the sausage and shrimp. While the sauce cook, the noodles can boil so everything is done at the same time, a truly easy dinner recipe.

Recipe Serving Suggestions

The best way to serve the shrimp pasta with sausage is fresh off the stove while the sauce is still warm and bubbly and the noodles are nice and tender. If you’re looking to elevate this dish, try serving your pasta with some of these fresh side dishes:

• BLT Salad
• Strawberry Spinach Salad
• Warm bread or garlic breadsticks
• Simple lettuce salad

More Weeknight Comfort Food Recipes

Craving more? These comfort food recipes will leave you feeling warm and cozy even on the chilliest of winter nights and the family will love them!

• One-Pot Tortellini Soup – an easy dump and go recipe that is flavorful and filling.
• Swedish Meatballs – homemade beef and pork meatballs in a creamy gravy.
• One-Pot Lasagna Soup – craving lasagna but not the prep work, this soup is for you!
• Meatballs with Spaghetti & Sauce – homemade beef meatballs with spaghetti and marinara.
• Tater Tot Casserole with Turkey – the classic tater tot casserole made with ground turkey.

Recipe FAQs

Which type of shrimp should I use?

Large shrimp are best for this recipe, as they will shrink down as the shrimp cook. If you can find raw, peeled, and deveined shrimp that is what you want, you can use raw frozen shrimp as well. Look for 26-30 or 31-40 which means you get roughly 26-30 or 31-40 shrimp per pound. As that number gets larger, the shrimp get smaller.

Can I use pre-cooked shrimp?

I recommend raw shrimp, not pre-cooked shrimp. This way you can control the texture of the shrimp better and it doesn’t turn out tough and rubbery. Also, we want to sauté the raw shrimp in butter and Cajun seasoning so it infuses with that flavor!

What type of pasta is best in this dish?

A tube shape pasta like penne or rigatoni works best for this dish as it holds the cream sauce and is easy to pick up with the other ingredients. Some other good options are shells, ziti, mostaccioli, or orecchiette noodles.

What vegetables can I add to my Cajun pasta?

Yes, this Cajun pasta goes great with several colorful veggies. Add in some sautéed red onion and garlic, roasted yellow squash, frozen peas, or yellow or red bell peppers for extra color and nutrients!

Can I substittue another protein?

Absolutely, grilled chicken breast, salmon, or steak bites all go great with this pasta dish. Instead of shrimp you could add in scallops or pieces of lobster. The Italian sausage can also be swapped with andouille or sliced kielbasa.

Recipe Tips & Variations

This easy Cajun shrimp pasta recipe can be customized to your personal preference, make the sauce more mild or more spicy, add in extra meat or veggies, change up the noodle – there are endless variations!

• Mix in other veggies like roasted squash, bell peppers, frozen peas, or asparagus.
• Use cheese tortellini instead of regular pasta noodles for extra cheese flavor.
• Cook pasta until just al dente so it holds up to the cream sauce and other mix-ins.
• Add in bacon or pancetta for extra texture and saltiness.
• Make extra sauce if you like extra with your pasta or for dipping.