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!
Here are some more of my favorite pasta recipe. Do try them too – White Sauce Pasta, Cajun Spaghetti, Chicken Florentine Pasta, Instant Pot Tuscan Chicken Pasta, and Instant Pot Chicken Broccoli Pasta.
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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.
Ingredients
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 Seasoning 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), and 2 tablespoon cajun spice in a mixing bowl. Keep aside.
Heat 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil in a pan over medium-high heat.
Once the oil is hot, add 2 teaspoon minced garlic and ¼ cup chopped 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
- 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.
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.
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 2 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley and serve hot.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
To make a homemade cajun seasoning, you will need,
½ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon black pepper powder
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon onion powder
¼ teaspoon cayenne powder
½ teaspoon paprika
¼ teaspoon dried oregano
¼ teaspoon dried thyme (optional)
Mix all the ingredients in a bowl and your homemade cajun seasoning is ready to be used. Store the leftover seasoning in an air-tight container for later use.
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.
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Recipe Card
Easy Cajun Jambalaya Pasta Recipe
Ingredients
To Cook Pasta
- 10 ounce dried pasta (300 g, I use penne but you can use any variety.)
- 2 tablespoons salt
For The Pasta Dish
- 10 ounce skinless boneless chicken breasts or chicken thighs (300g, cut into ½-inch pieces)
- 4 ounce sausages (100 g, sliced)
- 2 tablespoons Cajun spice mix
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- ¼ cup chopped onions
- 7 ounce 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
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.
Did you make this recipe? Let me know!