Smoked sausage. Pasta. Cheese. Alfredo....need I say more?
This is easily one of my favorite "one pot" go-to dinners when I'm feeling the need for some spicy southern comfort food. The seasonings combine for a mix of flavors that blend so well no one will believe how easy it is! Always sure to impress whether you are feeding a crowd or whipping up a tasty dinner for two. It also reheats incredibly well, so bring on the leftovers! If there are any leftovers that is...
Gooey southern style deliciousness
This yummy recipe came as a result of, yours truly, forgetting to de-thaw chicken breast for Chicken Alfredo...and boy am I glad I did! From some quick thinking and on-hand ingredients from the fridge, viola! this new house favorite was born.
Using few ingredients and lots of wallet-friendly herbs and spices, my Cajun Sausage Alfredo Pasta earned it's place at the top of the list of low budget dinners!
Budget friendly and boyfriend approved
I hope you, my fellow foodies, enjoy my spin on this classic as much as I have. Be sure to leave a comment and let me know what you think, I love to hear from you! Now let's get started...
INGREDIENTS Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 25 minutes
Smoked sausage (I used Dickey's smoked spicy cheddar sausage)
1 jar Prego roasted garlic parmesan alfredo sauce
1 box penne pasta
2 tbsp Creole seasoning (or more, season to taste)
2 tsp Better Than Bouillon- Chicken Base
1/2 tsp dried minced garlic
2 tsp dried basil leaves
Pinch of salt (or to taste, if you like a saltier flavor)
1 tsp black pepper (again, to taste)
Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup chopped yellow onion (optional, but delicious)
Start water for pasta boiling in large pot.
If you are going to be adding chopped yellow onion, start by dicing up 1/2 cup and set aside. Next cut the smoked sausage into slices about 1/4 inch thick. Combine sausage, chopped onion and minced garlic in a frying pan and heat on medium high until sausage browns on both sides and onions are tender. The garlic may appear "burnt", this is ok as it releases the flavor and will not be noticeable in the finished product.
Once your water is boiling, add in whatever oil you prefer to cook your pasta with (I prefer extra virgin olive oil, but vegetable oil will work just as well). About 1/4 cup will do. This helps keep the pasta from becoming clumped and sticky while it cooks.
Cook pasta until it is almost done. It should be soft but still a bit chewy. Once it reaches this point, drain and set aside in the large pot with the lid on. You may add a tbsp of butter if you think it may become sticky while you wait for the sausage to brown. Once the sausage is browned to your satisfaction, add your sausage, onion and garlic mixture to the pasta.
Now for the fun part...
Stir in the alfredo sauce, and 2 tsp dried basil leaves. Tip: holding the basil leaves in the palm of your hand, rub both hands together to break up the leaves and let them fall from your hands into the pot, this releases even more flavor from the leaves. Then stir them into the mixture and allow to simmer on medium low heat for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Next add in 2 tsp Better That Bouillon- Chicken Base, 2 tbsp Creole seasoning, pinch of salt and 1 tsp black pepper. Stir together and taste test, if you feel it needs more spice then add in a little bit more Creole seasoning, testing as you go, until it reaches the desired level of heat. This seasoning is NOT salty and will only add heat to the pasta, so no need to worry about over-salting.
Now your Cajun Sausage Alfredo Pasta is ready to serve! Dish up, sprinkle with parmesan cheese, and most importantly...ENJOY!
If you enjoyed this recipe please be sure to leave a comment, and follow my food board on Pinterest to receive updates and find more easy-peasy recipes to live by. Thanks for stopping by and Bon Appètit!
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