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Instant Pot Creamy Cajun Pasta with Sausage is an Instant Pot one-pot meal that is all about flavor! Made with penne pasta, Andouille sausage or a smoky kielbasa, a Cajun spice blend, and more. This pressure cooker creamy Cajun pasta is full of good stuff! It’s an easy, tasty meal to make in your electric pressure cooker.
Originally published 12/10/17
Instant Pot Creamy Cajun Pasta with Sausage
Today I am updating the blog. There is a lot of work that goes into being a blogger, and one of the most important tasks is keeping up to date on technology, security, and so on.
I knew this amazingly delicious Instant Pot one-pot meal was a delicious option for dinner tonight.
This is another of those “Once upon a time, I made this on the stove” kind of recipes. It still amazes me how often I turn to my Instant Pot® electric pressure cooker to make pasta!
I think my favorite thing about making pasta in the IP is that I don’t have to drain the water from the pasta (and that allows me to use broth instead of water, for even more flavor).
The other thing I love about making Instant Pot Creamy Cajun Pasta with Sausage, and many other recipes in my IP, is that it has a great sauté feature, which means I truly can make one-pot meals in it.
Instant Pot Creamy Cajun Pasta with Sausage isn’t too spicy, unless the Cajun spice blend you use happens to be a spicier mix. If that is the case, you might want to reduce the amount you use.
My Cajun Spice Blend is just a bit spicy as Paul doesn’t like too much heat. It does still have a lot of flavor, though!
This yummy pressure cooker Cajun pasta is one of my most popular recipes, and if you try it you will know why!
I have several Instant Pot pasta recipes to choose from, so if this Instant Pot Creamy Cajun Pasta isn’t what you are looking for, search the website for pasta and you will most likely find something you will really like!
Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Pasta
Instant Pot Creamy Garlic Tuscan Chicken Pasta
Instant Pot Cheesy Taco Pasta
Instant Pot Cheeseburger Pasta
Instant Pot Leftover Turkey Pasta
Instant Pot Creamy Cajun Pasta with Sausage
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp Olive Oil
- 1 Tbsp Butter
- 1 lb Andouille Sausage (or Smoked Kielbasa) sliced in 1/2" rounds
- 1 Chicken Breast, skinless/boneless, cubed
- 1 small Sweet Onion, chopped
- ½ cup Celery, diced
- 4 cloves Garlic, pressed or minced
- 1 ½ Tbsp Cajun Seasoning Blend* (try my recipe or a store bought blend like Tony Chachere's)
- 1 Tbsp Smoked Paprika
- 8 med Mushrooms, sliced (optional)
- 1 Red Bell Pepper, chopped
- 4 cups Chicken Broth, low sodium
- 12 to 16 oz Penne Pasta
- 1 cup Parmesan Cheese, grated
- 1 cup Heavy Cream
- ¼ cup Fresh Flat Leaf Parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Gather all of the ingredients, and get all of your veggies and the sausage chopped before starting, and that will make for a smoother cooking experience!
- Turn on the pot to the Sauté function. When the display reads Hot, add the oil and butter.
- Add the sausage and chicken breast, if using, and cook for 3 or 4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add the onion and celery. Cook until onion starts to turn translucent.
- Add the garlic, Cajun spice blend, smoked paprika, and mushrooms. Cook for 1 minute, stirring frequently.
- Add the red bell pepper and chicken broth. Stir. Let come to a simmer (the glass lid helps it come to a simmer faster).
- Add the pasta and make sure it is submerged. Then place the lid on the pot and lock into place. Set the steam release knob to the Sealing position.
- Cancel the Sauté function. Press the Pressure Cook/Manual button (or dial) and use the + or - button (or dial) to choose 5 minutes.
- When the cooking cycle has ended, turn off the pot (or press Cancel) and do a Quick Release of the pressure/steam. Start slowly to be sure only steam comes out, and then fully release it.
- When the pin in the lid drops back down, open the lid and stir the pasta.
- Stir in the parmesan cheese, and let it melt.
- Stir in the heavy cream and parsley.
- Let sit uncovered for a couple of minutes to thicken up. This is a saucy dish, so it won't be thick like mac and cheese, but it will thicken some as it cools.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
RESOURCES TO MAKE Instant Pot Creamy Cajun Pasta recipe and more
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I was wondering if you could use shrimp in this? I think it would very good!
Yes, that would be great! I would add t after pressure cooking, stir it in, and put a lid on so the shrimp can cook in the residual heat. Yummy!
I tried this today as my first ever pressure cooker pasta dish and I am blown away by the results. I made a few substitutions using what I had on hand: i used shell pasta, refrigerator pickled bell pepper slices, subbed out most of the parmesan for cheddar to please a picky eater, plus I used canned evaporated milk in place of the heavy cream. I think next time I make this (and there will be many next times) I will add more pepper slices and try pepperjack cheese. So many ways to play with this one.
Thank you!
Hi Amanda, I’m so glad you liked this recipe! Yes, so many ways to change it up! Thanks for your review!
Great idea on the evaporated milk, I am assuming you kept with the 1 cup as the recipe calls for? Thanks!
Yes. Just add some and stir it. Then see if you want more.
My husband and I are from Louisiana and New to the Instant Pot world. We tried this recipe hoping to have something that tasted like home and it hit the spot!! Excited to try more of your insta Pot recipes!!
Hi Eleanor! I’ll take this as a major compliment coming from you and your hubby! Thank you so much for letting me know!
Loved this recipe. added greenhouse and left out the mushrooms (only because I didn’t have any)
Thanks so much
This was delish. The only thing I did different was I had a jar of roasted sun-dried tomatoes and I add that to the recipe it added a little extra flavor and was great thoroughly enjoyed this recipe easy and quick .
Hi there. If I’m omitting the pasta for a low carb alternative would I omit the chicken broth? How would you suggest I modify? Thanks!
Hi Sarah, the amount of pasta requires that amount of broth. But since you need some for the pressure to build, I’d leave 1 cup in and see how it turns out. You can add more if you like.
Hi. Can this recipe be doubled?
If you have the 8 quart. Otherwise maybe just half again the recipe.
I want to say that I love this recipe. I make it once or twice a week for my roommates and I. My roommate told me that when I make the dish I am making crack. She loves it so much.
Hahaha Matt! I’m so happy that you and your roommate like this, no LOVE this recipe so much! Thanks for your review!
We LOVE this recipe! I ended up substituting some coconut milk with tapioca starch instead of heavy cream, added put in some extra cheese, and added butter garlic shrimp that I fried up after the IP was done and it was even more flavorful!
Making this for the 3rd time this week.
Hi Rachel! Yum! I like the substitutions you made to make it yours. Thank you for your review!
I made this in a big pot on the stove because I don’t have an electric pressure cooker. Turned out AMAZING and is now a part of my regular rotation of meals. These are my improvisations:
– me and my husband prefer things on the spicier side, so I used 1 tbs of cajun seasoning and. 5 tbs of Zatarain’s blackened seasoning (instead of 1.5 tbs cajun)
– used 1.5 red and orange peppers (orange peppers have a slight kick)
– I used 1 lb. ground chicken and 3 chicken andouille sausages for the meat
Thank you so much! ?
Hi Nicky! I looked for your original comment, but it went to spam and I didn’t catch it. So sorry! Well it sure looks like you made this recipe work! Thank you so much for your review!
Have made the stove top version several times and I love it. Your way looks much easier and would love to try it. My question is (since I have a CPE not an IP) if I’m doing manual pressure, set at high or low?
Thanks in advance
High.