Creamy Cajun Pasta with Bell Peppers (Printable)

Rich, creamy pasta with Cajun spices, roasted bell peppers, and smoked paprika. A flavorful comfort dish ready in under an hour.

# Ingredient List:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz penne or fettuccine pasta

→ Vegetables

02 - 2 large red bell peppers, roasted, peeled, and sliced
03 - 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Sauce

05 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
06 - 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
07 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
08 - ½ teaspoon salt
09 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper
10 - ¾ cup plus 2 tablespoons heavy cream
11 - ¼ cup vegetable broth
12 - ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

→ Garnish

13 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
14 - Extra grated Parmesan cheese for serving

# How to Make:

01 - Cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package directions until al dente. Drain and reserve ½ cup pasta water.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion and sauté for 3 minutes until softened.
03 - Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in Cajun seasoning and smoked paprika, cooking for 30 seconds to bloom the spices.
04 - Add roasted bell pepper slices and sauté for 2 minutes until heated through.
05 - Pour in heavy cream and vegetable broth, stirring to combine. Simmer for 3 to 4 minutes until slightly thickened.
06 - Stir in Parmesan cheese, salt, and black pepper until smooth. Add reserved pasta water if sauce is too thick.
07 - Toss cooked pasta with sauce until well coated. Heat gently for 1 to 2 minutes.
08 - Transfer to serving plates immediately. Garnish with fresh parsley and additional Parmesan cheese.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It tastes like restaurant quality comfort food but comes together in under an hour with pantry staples.
  • The creamy sauce clings to every piece of pasta, and the roasted peppers bring a natural sweetness that balances the heat beautifully.
  • You can easily make it your own by adding protein or adjusting the spice level without losing any of the richness.
02 -
  • Don't skip saving the pasta water, it has starch that helps the sauce cling and brings everything together without thinning the flavor.
  • Bloom your spices in the hot oil before adding liquids or they'll taste raw and chalky instead of deep and aromatic.
  • If your sauce breaks or looks grainy, it's usually because the heat was too high when you added the cheese, keep it at a gentle simmer.
03 -
  • Taste your Cajun seasoning before you add it, some blends are much saltier or spicier than others and you may need to adjust the amount.
  • For a lighter version, swap half the cream for more broth or use half and half, you'll lose some richness but it still tastes wonderful.
  • Grate your own Parmesan fresh, the pre shredded kind has anti caking agents that keep it from melting smoothly into the sauce.
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