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Delicious Mardi Gras Pasta from Pappadeaux, perfect for Cajun cuisine lovers.

Pappadeaux Mardi Gras Pasta

A spicy and creamy pasta dish that's bold and comforting, perfect for any special occasion or weeknight dinner.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Cajun
Calories: 600
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pasta and Proteins
  • 12 ounces Penne Pasta Feel free to swap with fusilli or rigatoni.
  • 1 pound Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast Can be replaced with turkey or omitted.
  • 1 pound Shrimp Consider scallops as an alternative.
  • 8 ounces Andouille-style Chicken Sausage Try chicken chorizo or turkey sausage for different flavors.
Vegetables and Aromatics
  • 1 cup Bell Peppers Mixed colors or one color.
  • 1 small Red Onion Can substitute yellow onion.
  • 3 cloves Garlic Minced; substitute with garlic powder if needed.
  • 2 tablespoons Chopped Parsley Adds fresh color and flavor.
Sauce and Seasoning
  • 1 cup Heavy Cream For richness; can use half-and-half.
  • 1 cup Parmesan Cheese Can use Pecorino Romano or nutritional yeast.
  • 2 tablespoons Cajun Seasoning Adjust to your spice preference.
  • 2 tablespoons Olive Oil For sautéing the proteins.
Seasoning to Taste
  • to taste Salt Crucial for enhancing flavors.
  • to taste Pepper Crucial for enhancing flavors.

Method
 

Cooking Pasta
  1. Cook pasta al dente; reserve pasta water.
Sauté Proteins
  1. Sear chicken until golden, then set aside.
  2. Sauté sausage until edges caramelize, then add shrimp last.
Combine Ingredients
  1. Deglaze pan lightly with stock or a splash of pasta water, then stir in cream and Cajun seasoning.
  2. Return proteins to the pan, toss with pasta and Parmesan; thin with reserved pasta water if needed.

Notes

This pasta is perfect for meal prep; just undercook the pasta a bit and reheat gently with added cream or pasta water.