Description
This Cajun Shrimp and Sausage Pasta offers a wonderful blend of flavors with just the right amount of spice. Perfect for a quick dinner, it’s made with fettuccine, succulent shrimp, and flavorful sausage, all smothered in a creamy sauce. Simple to prepare and utterly satisfying, this dish is a must-try for any food lover!
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces fettuccine
- 12 ounces large raw shrimp, peeled and deveined (tails off)
- 1 tablespoon cajun seasoning, divided
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 ring (13.5 ounces) smoked sausage, cut into ¼-inch pieces
- ¼ cup (½ stick / 57 g) unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
- 2 cups (476 g) heavy whipping cream
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 1 cup (100 g) parmesan cheese, grated
- parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Boil a large pot of salted water over medium-high heat. Cook fettuccine until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water, drain, and set aside.
- Dry the shrimp with paper towels and season with half of the cajun seasoning. Set aside.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, add the olive oil. When shimmering, add the smoked sausage. Cook for 2-3 minutes per side until golden and crispy. Transfer to a plate and keep warm with foil.
- In the same skillet, add the seasoned shrimp in a single layer. Cook for 1-2 minutes per side until cooked through, then set aside with the sausage.
- Melt the butter in the skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute.
- Pour in the heavy cream and add the remaining cajun seasoning, salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes. Stir and bring to a gentle boil, stirring occasionally.
- Reduce heat to low and simmer the sauce for 6-8 minutes until it thickens slightly.
- Stir in the parmesan cheese until melted and smooth.
- Add the cooked fettuccine, sausage, and shrimp back to the skillet. Toss to coat in the sauce, adding reserved pasta water if the sauce is too thick.
- Garnish with chopped parsley and serve hot.
Notes
Feel free to adjust the amount of cajun seasoning to suit your spice preference.
For a lighter version, you can substitute half of the heavy cream with low-fat milk or a plant-based alternative.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 540
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 1200mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 150mg