Creamy Cajun Pastalaya
User Reviews
4.7
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Prep Time
15 mins
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Cook Time
25 mins
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Total Time
40 mins
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Servings
6
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Calories
456 kcal
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Course
Main Course, Lunch, Dinner
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Cuisine
Creole
Creamy Cajun Pastalaya
Description
Creamy Cajun Pastalaya focuses on a blend of proteins — shrimp, bite-sized chicken pieces, and smoked sausage — seared and seasoned with Cajun spices for bold flavor. The vegetables, including onion, celery, garlic, and julienned bell peppers, are cooked until softened, complementing the proteins well. The dish is built up with chicken broth and heavy cream before melting in fontina cheese, creating a thick, creamy sauce that coats the pasta and ingredients thoroughly.
The pasta used can be mafalda or any similar type; other shaped pastas like penne or rigatoni are suitable as well. The Cajun seasoning level can be adjusted to taste for mild or more pronounced heat. Topped with fresh chopped green onions and parsley, the dish gains freshness and contrast to the creamy spiced sauce.
This dish works well as a filling lunch or dinner and offers flexibility to vary protein, pasta type, and spice level. Cheese substitutions and dairy-free alternatives can be used according to dietary needs.
Ingredients
- 12 ounce pasta I used mafalda, dry
- 8 ounces Shrimp peeled and deveined
- 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 6 ounce chicken breast boneless and skinless, cut into small bite size pieces, about 1 large chicken breast
- 1 link andouille sausage or smoked sausage, cut into slices
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 1 talk celery chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 medium bell pepper any color, julienned
- 1½ cups chicken broth low sodium
- ½ cup heavy cream
- salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
- 1 cup fontina cheese shredded
- 3 green onions chopped, for ganish
- 2 tablespoons parsley chopped, for garnish, fresh
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package instructions.
- Season the shrimp with about ½ tablespoon of the cajun seasoning and set aside.
- In a large skillet or Dutch oven heat the olive oil. Add the shrimp and cook on both sides until it turns pink, about 2 min per side, could be less depending on the size of your shrimp. Remove the shrimp from the pot and set aside.
- Add the chicken and sausage to the pot, and sprinkle about 1 tablespoon of the cajun seasoning over the chicken. Stir everything together and cook until the chicken is no longer pink and is cooked through, about 5 minutes.
- Add the onion, celery and garlic to the skillet and cook until the onion becomes translucent, about 3 minutes.
- Add all the peppers and sprinkle the remaining ½ tablespoon of cajun seasoning over the peppers, stir well and cook for another 3 minutes.
- Add the chicken broth and heavy cream to the skillet, stir and season with salt and pepper if needed. Add the shrimp back to the pot. Bring the sauce to a boil, then add the cooked pasta and about ½ cup of the shredded Fontina cheese. Stir everything together.
- Remove from heat, then garnish with the remaining Fontina cheese, green onions and parsley. The pasta will continue to soak up the sauce.
- Serve immediately. Refrigerate leftover for up to 3 days.
Notes
- Substitute the mafalda pasta with penne or rigatoni if desired for a different texture.
- Adjust the amount of Cajun seasoning to control the spice level according to preference.
- If Fontina cheese is unavailable, mild cheddar or Monterey Jack can be used as alternatives.
- Proteins can be varied – try different sausages, chicken, or tofu for a vegetarian option.
- For a dairy-free or vegan version, replace heavy cream with coconut milk and use vegan cheese or omit cheese entirely.
- Taste and season gradually to avoid over-spicing the dish.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 6Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 456 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1serving | |
| Calories | 456kcal | 23% |
| Carbohydrates | 51g | 17% |
| Protein | 22g | 44% |
| Fat | 19g | 29% |
| Saturated Fat | 10g | 50% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2g | 12% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 6g | 30% |
| Trans Fat | 0.003g | 0% |
| Cholesterol | 66mg | 22% |
| Sodium | 248mg | 10% |
| Potassium | 527mg | 11% |
| Fiber | 4g | 16% |
| Sugar | 5g | 10% |
| Vitamin A | 3095IU | 62% |
| Vitamin C | 56mg | 62% |
| Calcium | 174mg | 17% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.7
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