This easy dinner recipe is a family favorite! It's quick to prepare in less than 30 minutes and the end result is cheesy comfort food that can be customized to suit your picky family. If you're looking for one pot meals to make, add this creamy pasta recipe to your dinner menu.
Prep Time5 minutesmins
Cook Time20 minutesmins
Course: Main Course
Keyword: comfort food, easy meals, one pot dinner, pasta, sausage
Servings: 4
Ingredients
1(13oz)pack cajun andouille sausage (cut into coins)
1tbspchopped garlic
1(14.5oz)can chicken broth(about 2 cups)
½cupheavy cream
1(10oz)can Rotel diced tomatoes and chilies
8 ouncesdry bowtie pasta(½ pound or approximately 2 cups)
2cupsshredded cheddar cheese
1tspcajun seasoning *see notes
Instructions
In a large skillet (big enough to eventually fit the pasta that also has a lid), cook the sausage over medium heat for about 5 minutes or until browned to your liking.
Remove the sausage from the pan and set aside on a paper towel lined plate. Don't get rid of the sausage grease in the pan!
In the same skillet, sauté the garlic in the leftover sausage grease for about a minute and then pour in the can of chicken broth, diced tomatoes, heavy cream, and about 1 tsp of cajun seasoning. Stir in the dry pasta, cover with a lid, and simmer on LOW for about 14 minutes.
Once the pasta is fully cooked, toss in the cooked sausage and a few cups of shredded cheddar cheese. Enjoy!
Notes
*If the brand of cajun seasoning you're using lists salt as the #1 ingredient, go easy on the seasoning or even wait until the pasta is cooked to do a taste test. The chicken broth and sausage are already loaded with salt so you don't need much! You can add cayenne or red pepper flakes if you want to make it extra spicy.
Most sausage contains enough of its own grease to skip the use of oil, but feel free to use a bit of cooking oil if you think you need it.
If you have picky kids at home who are spice sensitive, try the smoked sausage along with a MILD can of diced tomatoes.
For added flavor, you can sauté chopped onions and bell peppers just before adding the garlic.
Looking for mix-in ideas? How about mushrooms, cooked broccoli, asparagus, leftover chicken, or shrimp.