Delicious Pappadeaux Mardi Gras Pasta
A vibrant and flavorful Cajun pasta dish featuring shrimp, chicken, and andouille sausage, perfect for parties or cozy dinners.
Ingredients
Pasta and Proteins
- 12 ounces Penne Pasta Feel free to swap with fusilli or rigatoni.
- 1 pound Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast Can be replaced with turkey or omitted.
- 1 pound Shrimp Consider scallops as an alternative.
- 8 ounces Andouille-style Sausage Use chicken or turkey andouille — no pork.
Vegetables
- 1 cup Bell Peppers Mixed colors or one color.
- 1 small Red Onion Can substitute yellow onion.
- 3 cloves Garlic Minced; substitute with garlic powder if needed.
Sauce
- 1 cup Heavy Cream For richness; can use half-and-half.
- 1 cup Parmesan Cheese Can use Pecorino Romano or nutritional yeast.
- 2 tablespoons Cajun Seasoning Adjust to your spice preference.
- 2 tablespoons Olive Oil For sautéing the proteins.
- to taste Salt Crucial for enhancing flavors.
- to taste Pepper Crucial for enhancing flavors.
- 2 tablespoons Chopped Parsley Adds fresh color and flavor.
Instructions
Preparation
- Boil the penne until al dente, salt the water like the ocean, then drain and set aside.
- Season chicken with half the Cajun seasoning; sear in a hot pan with olive oil until golden and cooked through, rest, then slice.
- In the same pan, quickly sear the andouille-style sausage slices until they have a slight char; remove.
- Sauté peppers and red onion until softened; add garlic for the last minute so it doesn't singe and go bitter.
- Toss shrimp with remaining Cajun seasoning and cook until just opaque — about two minutes — then remove.
- Deglaze with a little stock or water and add heavy cream; simmer for a minute to thicken.
- Stir in Parmesan until it melts into the sauce; add sliced chicken, sausage, shrimp, and cooked penne; toss to coat.
- Finish with chopped parsley, adjust salt and pepper, and then eat immediately.
Notes
This dish can be made gluten-free with GF penne. If you have any leftover turkey, it can be substituted for chicken. Adjust Cajun seasoning based on your spice tolerance.