Easy Cajun Jambalaya Pasta (Pastalaya)

5 from 2 votes

This Easy Cajun Jambalaya Pasta (Pastalaya) is bursting with deep Louisiana flavors and comes together in just 30 minutes. This pasta dish is loaded with shrimp, sausages, veggies, and a pre-made cajun spice mix. Try it!

Jambalaya pasta served in a bowl.
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What Is Jambalaya

Jambalaya is an American Creole and Cajun dish of rice where rice is cooked with ham, sausage, chicken, shrimp, peppers, and onions along with a variety of herbs.

About Cajun Jambalaya Pasta

This Easy Cajun Jambalaya Pasta (Pastalaya) is a dish that combines the flavors of the popular Cajun classic Jambalaya in a pasta dish.

Jambalaya Pasta is packed with chicken, shrimp, sausages, veggies, and pasta flavored with a pre-made cajun spice blend and a few extra herbs. These ingredients altogether make this cajun pasta a hit at the dining table.

This quick and easy pasta dish comes together in under 30 minutes using a few simple ingredients.

Jambalaya Pasta is also served at the Cheesecake Factory and this recipe is very close to it.

Make it for your quick weeknight dinner, brunches, potlucks, or anytime you crave something delicious yet easy.

This easy jambalaya pasta recipe can be easily doubled or tripled.

Here are some more of my favorite pasta recipe. Do try them too

Ingredients

Jambalaya pasta ingredients 1
Jambalaya pasta ingredients 2
Jambalaya Pasta ingredients 3

Pasta – You can use any pasta of your choice to make this jambalaya pasta recipe. Opt for penne, spaghetti, farfalle, rigatoni, or any type of pasta variety you prefer.

Chicken – Boneless skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs are preferred to make this pasta recipe.

Sausages – Traditionally Andouille sausage are used to make this recipe. They have a smoky, sharp taste and are chunky in texture giving a nice bite to the pasta.

I am not a big fan of pork, so I added chicken sausages.

Feel free to add any sausages (kielbasa, bratwurst, chorizo, etc) that you like.

Shrimps – You can use fresh shrimp or frozen shrimp of any size that you prefer. Make sure they are cleaned and deveined.

Bell Peppers – Red bell pepper and green bell pepper are added for a delicious flavor. You can also add other veggies like broccoli, mushrooms, green beans, etc to it.

Cajun Seasoning (Creole Seasoning) – This seasoning is a delicious blend of paprika, cayenne, garlic powder, pepper, and oregano, which adds a lot of flavor to the pasta. Try my homemade Cajun Spice Mix for the best result.

Tomato Puree – Tomato puree give a tangy sweet taste to the dish. You can use tomato paste too.

Chicken Broth (Chicken Stock) – It adds a lot of flavors and also helps bind the ingredients.

Parsley – Garnish the Pastalaya with some fresh parsley for an added refreshing taste and a pop of green. You can replace parsley with basil or green onions.

You will also need extra virgin olive oil, red onions, garlic, salt, and freshly cracked black pepper.

Add a little hot sauce for a spicy kick.

How To Make Cajun Jambalaya Pasta

Cook The Pasta

Heat 5 cups of water in a large pot or a large Dutch oven over high heat.

Once the water comes to a boil, add 2 tablespoon salt and 10 oz (300 g) of dried pasta to the pot and stir gently.

Cook for 7 minutes or until al dente.

Drain the water (reserve 1 cup).

Make Jambalaya Pasta

While the pasta is cooking, mix together

  • 10 oz (300 g) boneless skinless chicken breasts (cut into ½ inch pieces)
  • 4 oz (100 g) sausages (sliced)
  • 2 tablespoon cajun spice

in a mixing bowl. Keep aside.

Sausages, chicken and cajun spice added to a bowl.
Jambalaya Ingredients Mixed well.

Heat 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil in a pan over medium-high heat.

Oil heating in a pan.

Once the oil is hot, add 2 teaspoon minced garlic and ¼ cup chopped onions to the pan and sauté for a minute.

Garlic and onions added to the pan.

Add the chicken and sausages mixed with the cajun spice and saute for 3-4 minutes.

Chicken and sausages added to the pan.

Now add

  • 7 oz (200 g) cleaned and deveined shrimp
  • ¼ cup diced red bell peppers
  • ¼ cup diced green bell peppers
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper

and mix well.

Shrimp, bell peppers, salt and pepper added to the pan.

Add ¼ cup of tomato puree (or 2 tablespoon tomato paste) and ¾ cup of chicken broth to the pan and mix well. Cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring a few times in between.

Tomato puree and chicken broth added to the pan.

Add the cooked pasta and mix everything well.

Cooked pasta added to the pan.

Add some pasta water if the pasta looks dry. Check for salt and add more if required.

Garnish with 2 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley and serve hot.

Jambalaya Pasta ready to be served

Frequently Asked Questions

How to make creamy Jambalaya pasta?

To make it creamy, add ½ a cup of unsweetened heavy cream or cream cheese to the ready pasta and cook until warmed through. Grate some parmesan cheese on top and serve.

Serving Suggestions

This pasta tastes great on its own. It is loaded with veggies, protein, and carbs and is a complete meal in itself.

To make this delicious recipe even more fulfilling, serve it with a side of a refreshing green salad, garlic bread, or creamy soup.

Storage Suggestions

This flavorsome Jambalaya Pasta will last for about 3 to 4 days in an airtight container. It will actually develop a more intense flavor as its sits in the container.

Reheat it in a pan or microwave and if you feel it has become a little dry, add in a little chicken broth and heat until it is heated through.

You can also cook the pasta in advance. Just make sure to toss it with some oil so that the pasta pieces don’t stick to each other.

You Might Also Like

This Easy Cajun Jambalaya Pasta (Pastalaya) is bursting with deep Louisiana flavors and comes together in just 30 minutes. This pasta dish is loaded with shrimp, sausages, veggies, and a pre-made cajun spice mix. Try it!
5 from 2 votes

Easy Cajun Jambalaya Pasta Recipe

This Easy Cajun Jambalaya Pasta (Pastalaya) is bursting with deep Louisiana flavors and comes together in just 30 minutes. This pasta dish is loaded with shrimp, sausages, veggies, and a pre-made cajun spice mix. Try it!
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 30 minutes
Servings: 4 people

Ingredients 

To Cook Pasta

  • 10 ounces dried pasta (300 g, I use penne but you can use any variety.)
  • 2 tablespoons salt

For The Pasta Dish

  • 10 ounces skinless boneless chicken breasts or chicken thighs (300g, cut into ½-inch pieces)
  • 4 ounces sausages (100 g, sliced)
  • 2 tablespoons Cajun spice mix
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic
  • ¼ cup chopped onions
  • 7 ounces shrimp (200 g, any size, cleaned and deveined)
  • ¼ cup diced red bell peppers
  • ¼ cup diced green bell peppers
  • ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
  • ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper (to taste)
  • ¼ cup tomato puree (or 2 tablespoon tomato paste)
  • ¾ cup chicken broth
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
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Instructions 

Cook The Pasta

  • Heat 5 cups of water in a large pot over high heat.
  • Once the water comes to a boil, add salt and pasta to the pot and stir gently.
  • Cook for 7 minutes.
  • Drain the water (reserve 1 cup).

Make Jambalaya Pasta

  • While the pasta is cooking, mix together chicken, sausages, and cajun spice in a mixing bowl. Keep aside.
  • Heat oil in a pan over medium-high heat.
  • Once the oil is hot, add garlic and onions to the pan and sauté for a minute.
  • Add the chicken and sausages mixed with the cajun spice and saute for 3-4 minutes.
  • Now add shrimp, red bell peppers, green bell peppers, salt, and black pepper, and mix well.
  • Add tomato puree and chicken broth to the pan and mix well. Cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring a few times in between.
  • Add the cooked pasta and mix everything well.
  • Add some pasta water if the pasta looks dry. Check for salt and add more if required.
  • Garnish with parsley and serve hot.

Video

YouTube video

Notes

This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled.

Nutrition

Calories: 574kcal, Carbohydrates: 59g, Protein: 41g, Fat: 18g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Cholesterol: 195mg, Sodium: 867mg, Potassium: 666mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 506IU, Vitamin C: 29mg, Calcium: 98mg, Iron: 3mg
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5 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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