Description
A creamy, bold, and comforting pasta dish featuring smoky sausage and rich homemade Cajun Alfredo sauce, perfect for family dinners or special gatherings.
Ingredients
12 ounces (340 g) fettuccine or penne pasta
14 ounces (400 g) smoked beef or chicken sausage, sliced
1 tablespoon olive oil (15 ml)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter (28 g)
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups heavy cream (480 ml)
1 cup whole milk (240 ml)
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (100 g)
1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning (8 g)
½ teaspoon smoked paprika (2 g)
¼ teaspoon black pepper (1 g)
½ teaspoon salt (3 g)
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, 1 g)
1 cup diced bell peppers (150 g)
½ cup diced onion (75 g)
¼ cup chopped parsley (15 g)
Instructions
Cook pasta in salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve ½ cup (120 ml) pasta water, then drain.
Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Brown sliced sausage for 5–7 minutes. Remove and set aside.
In the same skillet, sauté onion and bell peppers for 3–4 minutes. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds.
Melt butter in the skillet. Pour in heavy cream and milk. Simmer gently.
Stir in Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, black pepper, and salt. Simmer 5–7 minutes until slightly thickened.
Gradually whisk in Parmesan cheese until smooth.
Return sausage to the skillet. Add cooked pasta and toss to coat.
Add reserved pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce. Garnish with parsley and serve hot.
Notes
Adjust Cajun seasoning to control heat level. Use freshly grated Parmesan for best texture. Add a splash of milk when reheating leftovers to maintain creaminess.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes