Spicy Jambalaya Pasta Chicken Shrimp (Printable)
Louisiana-inspired pasta with chicken, shrimp, peppers, and creamy spicy Cajun sauce.
# What You 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 - 1/2 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 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
18 - 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper adjust to taste
19 - 1/2 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 directions until al dente. Drain and reserve 1/2 cup pasta water before setting aside.
02 - Coat shrimp with 1 tsp Cajun seasoning. Season chicken pieces with salt, pepper, and remaining 1 tsp Cajun seasoning.
03 - Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and sausage; cook 4 to 5 minutes until browned and cooked through. Transfer to plate.
04 - Add remaining olive oil and butter to skillet. Cook shrimp 1 to 2 minutes per side until just opaque. Remove and set aside.
05 - In same skillet, cook onion and peppers 3 to 4 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook 1 minute until fragrant.
06 - Stir in tomatoes, tomato paste, Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, cayenne, and thyme. Cook 2 minutes to meld flavors.
07 - Pour in chicken broth and heavy cream, scraping browned bits from bottom. Simmer 3 to 4 minutes until slightly thickened.
08 - Return chicken, sausage, and shrimp to pan. Add pasta and toss to coat, adding pasta water as needed for consistency. Adjust seasoning. Serve hot garnished with green onions, parsley, and Parmesan if desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The creamy sauce hugs every piece of pasta while Cajun spices give it that signature Louisiana kick
- Everything cooks in one skillet so you get maximum flavor with minimal cleanup
02 -
- Do not skip reserving that pasta water because the starch helps bind the sauce to the noodles
- The shrimp will continue cooking in the hot sauce so pull them from the pan while they are still slightly underdone
03 -
- Use a heavy bottomed skillet or cast iron pan to get the best sear on your chicken and retain heat evenly
- Let the sauce rest off the heat for two minutes before tossing with the pasta so it thickens naturally