This Cajun Jambalaya Pasta or Pastalaya is bursting with deep Louisiana flavours and comes together in just 30 minutes. It has pasta, shrimp, sausages, veggies and a pre made cajun spice mix. Try it!
A delicious bowl of pasta makes a great one pot dish for your weekday dinners, so try a few more of my favourite pasta recipes – white sauce pasta, cajun spaghetti, chicken florentine pasta, instant pot tuscan chicken pasta and garlicky roasted red pepper pasta.
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What is Jambalaya?
Jambalaya is traditionally a mixture of rice which is cooked with ham, sausage, chicken, shrimp, peppers, onions along with a variety of herbs.
About This Recipe
This Jambalaya Pasta is packed with chicken, shrimp, sausages, veggies and pasta flavoured with a pre made cajun spice mix and a few extra herbs. These ingredients all together makes this one pot cajun pasta a hit at the dining table.
The pre made cajun spice mix is what flavours this dish beautifully and it all comes together in just 30 minutes. You can also make the cajun seasoning at home, if you have extra time on your hands.
This quick and easy pasta is popularly served in the oh-so-famous cheesecake factory. If you have ever tasted it, then this pasta recipe will definitely remind you of those incredible deep Louisiana flavours again.
Make it for your weeknight dinners, weekend brunch, potlucks or anytime you crave something delicious yet easy.
Ingredients
Pasta – You can use any pasta of your choice to make this jambalaya pasta recipe. You can opt for penne, spaghetti, farfalle, rigatoni, or any other pasta variety you prefer.
Chicken – Chicken breast is preferred for this pasta recipe. Cut them into bite-sized chunks before adding in the dish.
Sausage – We will use sliced Andouille Sausage, which is more chunky in texture because of the chopped pork. It has a coarse, smoky, and sharp taste that adds a unique flavour in the pasta. However, feel free to use any sausage – kielbasa, chicken or pork.
Shrimps – Clean and devein the shrimp before using it. Shrimps are added later, once the chicken and sausages are partially cooked, as shrimps take less time to cook. If you add them with chicken, they will get overcooked and become chewy.
Bell Pepper – Along with all the meat, we will also add in red and green bell pepper, as the traditional jambalaya dish uses bell pepper as one of its main ingredients.
Cajun Seasoning – This creole seasoning is a delicious blend of paprika, cayenne, garlic powder, pepper, and oregano, which adds a lot of flavour in the Pasta. Try my homemade Cajun Seasoning for the best result.
Tomato – Tomatoes are used to make the sauce, which adds a tangy sweet taste in the dish.
Chicken Broth – To add in more flavor in the sauce, add in some chicken broth. You can either use the homemade chicken broth or the store-bought one.
Parsley – Finally, garnish it with some parsley for an added refreshing taste and a pop of green in this pasta.
How to make Jambalaya Pasta?
Mix chicken breast, sausage, cajun spice in a bowl.
Heat oil in a pan.
Add garlic and onion and sauté for a minute.
Add the chicken and sausage and cook for 3-4 minutes.
Now add shrimp, red and green bell pepper, and season with salt and pepper.
Add tomato and chicken broth in the same pan and cook for 3-4 minutes.
Add the cooked pasta and mix everything well.
Garnish with fresh parsley and serve hot.
Frequently Asked Questions
To make it creamy, add in ½ a cup of heavy cream or cream cheese after your chicken stock. It will add the richness making the pasta creamier and tastier.
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.
Pro Tips By Neha
Cut your bell peppers in equal sized pieces, which will cook them evenly and also make them look good in the pasta.
Getting a store bought or pre made cajun seasoning will save you so much time and will give you this incredible pasta dish in just 30 minutes. So no more buying packaged pasta packets!
If you own a cast iron pan, I would suggest you to make this pasta in it for an advanced flavour.
Adjust the cajun seasoning to make it less spicy or more spicy.
Storage Suggestions
This flavoursome Jambalaya Pasta will last for about 3 to 4 days in an air tight container. The pasta will actually develop more intense flavour 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 the protein is heated through.
Recipe Card
Jambalaya Pasta Recipe
Ingredients
- 300 gram Chicken Breast (cut into small pieces)
- 100 gram Andouille Sausage (sliced)
- 2 tablespoon Cajun Spice Mix
- 2 tablespoon Oil
- 1 teaspoon Garlic (minced)
- ¼ cup Onion (chopped)
- 200 gram Shrimp (cleaned and deveined)
- ¼ cup Red Bell Pepper (diced)
- ¼ cup Green Bell Pepper (diced)
- Salt (to taste)
- Pepper (to taste)
- ¼ cup Tomato (chopped)
- ¾ cup Chicken Broth
- 300 gram Pasta (cooked)
- 1 tablespoon Fresh Parsley (chopped)
Instructions
- Mix chicken breast, sausage, cajun spice in a bowl.
- Heat oil in a pan.
- Add garlic and onion and sauté for a minute.
- Add the chicken and sausage and cook for 3-4 minutes.
- Now add shrimp, red and green bell pepper and season with salt and pepper.
- Add tomato and chicken broth in the same pan and cook for 3-4 minutes.
- Add the cooked pasta and mix everything well.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and serve hot.
Did you make this recipe? Let me know!