Spicy Jambalaya Pasta Chicken Shrimp (Print Version)

Louisiana-inspired spicy pasta with chicken, shrimp, peppers, and creamy Cajun sauce for a flavorful main dish.

# What You'll Need:

→ Proteins

01 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
02 - 8 oz large shrimp, peeled and deveined
03 - 3.5 oz andouille sausage, sliced (optional)

→ Pasta

04 - 12 oz penne or fettuccine pasta

→ Vegetables

05 - 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
06 - 1 green bell pepper, thinly sliced
07 - 1 small onion, diced
08 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
09 - 2 tomatoes, diced
10 - 2 green onions, sliced (for garnish)

→ Sauce

11 - 1 cup heavy cream
12 - ½ cup chicken broth
13 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
14 - 2 tbsp olive oil
15 - 1 tbsp unsalted butter

→ Spices

16 - 2 tsp Cajun seasoning (plus extra for shrimp)
17 - ½ tsp smoked paprika
18 - ¼ tsp cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
19 - ½ tsp dried thyme
20 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

→ Optional Garnish

21 - Fresh parsley, chopped
22 - Grated Parmesan cheese

# How-To Steps:

01 - Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside, reserving ½ cup pasta water.
02 - Toss shrimp with 1 tsp Cajun seasoning. Season chicken with salt, pepper, and 1 tsp Cajun seasoning.
03 - Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and sausage; cook 4-5 minutes until browned and cooked through. Remove to a plate.
04 - Add remaining olive oil and butter to the same skillet. Add shrimp; cook 1-2 minutes per side until just opaque. Remove and set aside.
05 - In the same skillet, sauté onion and peppers until softened, about 3-4 minutes. Add garlic; cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
06 - Stir in tomatoes, tomato paste, Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, cayenne, and thyme. Cook for 2 minutes.
07 - Pour in chicken broth and heavy cream, scraping up any browned bits. Simmer for 3-4 minutes.
08 - Return cooked chicken, sausage, and shrimp to the pan. Add cooked pasta and toss to coat, adding reserved pasta water as needed for desired sauce consistency. Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve hot, garnished with green onions, parsley, and Parmesan if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The creamy spicy sauce clings to every strand of pasta creating bites that keep you coming back for more
  • It comes together in under an hour but tastes like something that simmered all day
  • You can adjust the heat level to please everyone at the table
02 -
  • Overcooked shrimp becomes rubbery so remove them from heat the moment they turn opaque
  • The pasta will continue absorbing sauce as it sits so err on the side of a slightly looser consistency
  • Cajun seasoning blends vary in saltiness always taste before adding more salt
03 -
  • Let the chicken and sausage get a deep brown crust in step three those browned bits are where all the flavor lives
  • Room temperature cream incorporates more smoothly than cold cream straight from the fridge

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