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Quick Creamy Cajun Butter Shrimp Pasta with Andouille Sausage

Quick Creamy Cajun Butter Shrimp Pasta - featured image
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A quick and easy creamy pasta dish featuring spicy andouille sausage and tender shrimp in a buttery Cajun sauce, ready in about 25 minutes. Perfect for weeknight dinners or casual gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound raw shrimp, peeled and deveined (medium or large size)
  • 8 ounces andouille sausage, sliced into ¼-inch rounds (smoky and spicy; kielbasa can be used as substitute)
  • 12 ounces fettuccine or linguine pasta (regular semolina or whole wheat)
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (room temperature)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning (store-bought or homemade)
  • 1 cup heavy cream (or half-and-half for a lighter twist)
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese (freshly grated)
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • Optional: pinch of red pepper flakes
  • Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
  • Lemon wedges (for serving)

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 12 ounces of fettuccine and cook according to package instructions until al dente (usually 10-12 minutes). Reserve ½ cup of pasta water before draining. Set pasta aside.
  2. While pasta cooks, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of butter and the sliced andouille sausage. Sauté for 4-5 minutes until sausage is browned and fragrant. Remove sausage and set aside, leaving the drippings in the skillet.
  3. In the same skillet, add another tablespoon of butter. Add the shrimp and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning. Cook shrimp for 2 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Remove shrimp and keep warm with the sausage.
  4. Lower heat to medium. Add remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and minced garlic to the skillet. Sauté garlic until fragrant, about 30 seconds, being careful not to burn.
  5. Slowly pour in 1 cup heavy cream, stirring constantly to combine with butter and garlic drippings.
  6. Stir in ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese until melted and sauce thickens slightly, about 2-3 minutes. Season with salt, black pepper, and optional red pepper flakes. If sauce feels too thick, stir in reserved pasta water a tablespoon at a time until desired consistency.
  7. Toss cooked pasta, sausage, and shrimp into the sauce. Stir gently until everything is evenly coated and heated through. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
  8. Remove from heat and sprinkle with freshly chopped parsley. Serve with lemon wedges on the side.

Notes

Do not overcook the shrimp to avoid rubbery texture; cook separately and add back at the end. Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency without watering down flavor. Use butter for a rich, silky sauce base. Adjust Cajun seasoning to taste. For gluten-free, substitute pasta with gluten-free noodles. For dairy-free, use coconut cream and dairy-free Parmesan substitute.

Nutrition

Keywords: Cajun, shrimp pasta, andouille sausage, creamy pasta, quick dinner, weeknight meal, spicy pasta, butter sauce

Find it online: https://tastytuck.com/quick-creamy-cajun-butter-shrimp-pasta-recipe-with-andouille-sausage-made-easy/