Description
A creamy, spicy, and easy one-pot dinner featuring rigatoni pasta cooked directly in a rich Cajun sausage sauce with roasted red peppers. Minimal cleanup required with maximum flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 12 ounces rigatoni pasta
- 2 cups chicken or vegetable broth (low sodium)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 pound Andouille or spicy Italian sausage
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 jar roasted red peppers, drained and chopped
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley or basil, chopped
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven or deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add sliced sausage and brown for 5-7 minutes until slightly crispy. Drain excess grease, leaving about a tablespoon.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add diced onion and cook for 2-3 minutes until soft. Add minced garlic and Cajun seasoning, stirring constantly for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Pour in rigatoni, broth, and smoked paprika. Stir well to scrape up browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat to low-medium and simmer uncovered for 15-18 minutes, stirring every 3-4 minutes to prevent sticking. Add a splash of broth or water if it looks too dry before pasta is cooked. Pasta should be al dente.
- Once pasta is cooked and most liquid absorbed, stir in heavy cream and roasted red peppers. Simmer for 1-2 minutes to heat through and thicken the sauce.
- Remove from heat. Stir in Parmesan cheese until melted. Taste and add salt if needed. Top with fresh parsley or basil and serve immediately.
Notes
Use low sodium broth to control saltiness as sausage and cheese are salty. Drain roasted peppers well to prevent watery sauce. Stir frequently to prevent sticking. Do not freeze as dairy separates when thawed. Reheat with a splash of milk or cream.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 850
- Fat: 28
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 22
Keywords: one-pot pasta, Cajun sausage, rigatoni, easy dinner, creamy pasta, roasted peppers, weeknight meals, gluten-free option