Description
A quick, creamy, and protein-packed shrimp and turkey sausage pasta dish with Cajun flavors. Perfect for weeknight meals or meal prep.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz penne or linguine pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 12 oz smoked turkey sausage, sliced
- 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup cream cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup reserved pasta water
- Chopped parsley and lemon wedges for garnish
Instructions
- Cook pasta in salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water and drain.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sliced turkey sausage and cook until browned. Remove and set aside.
- Add shrimp to the skillet, season with paprika, garlic powder, and cayenne. Sauté until pink and opaque. Remove and set aside.
- In the same pan, sauté bell peppers, onion, and garlic until soft and fragrant, about 5 minutes.
- Lower heat and stir in heavy cream, cream cheese, and Parmesan. Add Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
- Return shrimp and sausage to the pan. Stir in cooked pasta and pasta water to loosen sauce if needed.
- Simmer gently for 2–3 minutes, garnish with chopped parsley and lemon wedges, and serve hot.
Notes
- Use pre-cooked shrimp if preferred—add at the end just to warm.
- Substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or coconut milk for a lighter sauce.
- Adjust cayenne and Cajun seasoning to control heat levels.
- Reheat leftovers with a splash of broth or cream to maintain sauce texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 750
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 950mg
- Fat: 35g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 40g
- Cholesterol: 210mg
Keywords: shrimp and turkey sausage pasta, creamy Cajun pasta, spicy shrimp pasta, protein-packed pasta recipe, one-pan dinner