Chicken and Sausage Pasta
A fusion of bold Cajun spices and creamy textures, this pasta dish perfectly balances hearty meats with smooth, rich sauce for a satisfying meal.
Servings: 4 people
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into bite size chunks
- 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning or more to taste (recipe note #1)
- 8 ounces penne pasta or other short pasta
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 large garlic cloves finely chopped
- 1/2 pound Andouille sausage sliced into 1/4-inch thick rounds
- 1 14 1/2-ounce can fire roasted diced tomatoes with liquid
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 2 ounces grated parmesan cheese about 2/3 cup
- chopped fresh parsley for garnish, optional
Instructions
- In a medium bowl combine chicken chunks and Cajun seasoning and toss to coat. Set aside.
- Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling, salted water according to package directions until firm to the bite (al dente). Drain, reserving 1 cup of cooking water.
- While the pasta cooks, heat butter and olive oil to a large skillet over medium-high heat until sizzling. Add garlic; cook and stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add chicken; cook and stir until just cooked through, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a clean plate with a slotted spoon (leave any excess fat behind).
- Add sausage to skillet and cook and stir until lightly browned, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer to plate with chicken.
- Add tomatoes with liquid to same skillet and bring to boil; cook and stir until liquid is reduced by half, 2-3 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low. Stir in heavy cream and parmesan cheese; bring to simmer. Cook and stir until cheese has melted and sauce thickens, about 3 minutes.
- Add drained, cooked pasta, chicken, sausage and any accumulated juices to skillet; cook and stir until well combined, heated through and sauce has thickened to your desired consistency. Or, if you prefer a thinner sauce, add reserved pasta water a little at a time as desired. Taste for seasoning and add more Cajun seasoning if you like. Transfer to serving platter or individual pasta bowls and garnish with parsley (if using) and serve.
Notes
- The amount of salt in Cajun seasoning varies widely by brand, so start out with a bit less than the recipe calls for and add more taste. If you're using a salt-free seasoning (my preference), add 1 1/2 teaspoons of seasoning and 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon of fine sea salt. This way, you can add more of each to taste.
Nutrition
Calories: 681kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 39g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 139mg | Sodium: 811mg | Potassium: 614mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1181IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 171mg | Iron: 2mg
QR code
Scan this QR code with your phone's camera to view this recipe on your mobile device.
