Cheesy Baked Cajun Pasta

Take comfort to the max with this Cheesy Baked Cajun Pasta! Penne pasta is combined with a rich cheese sauce with cajun flavors and sliced sausage throughout. It’s filling and comforting!

If you love cajun flavors, you’ll also need to try these Spicy Cajun Cheesesteak Sandwiches, this Crispy Cajun Chicken and Pasta, or this Cajun Sausage Pasta.

I can’t believe I’m about to say it, but summer vacation is almost here. My daughter reminds me of it every day. In fact, she has been on countdown mode for several weeks now. 13, 12, 11… Ahhh!

But I am looking forward to summer and slower mornings relaxed schedules. And I’m hoping for lots of summer adventures and lots of ice cream.

But in the meantime, you need to make this Cheesy Baked Cajun Pasta before it’s too hot to turn on the oven. I’m actually a fan of cheesy pasta dishes all summer long, so I could totally see myself making this for a Sunday supper in the middle of July. But that’s just me. 😉

My husband and I both fell in love with this cheesy pasta dish. But I’m slowly discovering that there are very few cheesy pasta dishes that I don’t love! This one is a little different, though, with the cajun spices and the sausage. It is definitely packed with flavor, and definitely packed with comfort!!

Ingredients

• Pasta: I used penne pasta, but any short cut pasta should work.
• Oil: A neutral oil would be best, but olive oil will work, as well.
• Vegetables: You will need onion, bell pepper, and garlic. I used a green bell pepper, but any color should work.
• Flour: The flour will help to thicken the sauce.
• Milk: I used 2% milk, but whole milk will work. If you use skim, the sauce may not thicken up enough.
• Cream Cheese: The cream cheese makes the sauce nice and smooth. It also helps to keep the sauce from separating.
• Seasoning: You will need salt and pepper, along with Cajun seasoning. I like to use my homemade cajun seasoning, but store bought will work, as well.
• Cheese: We’re using a mixture of sharp cheddar cheese and gruyere. You want to make sure to use freshly grated cheese.
• Kielbasa: I like to use kielbasa if at all possible, but if I can’t find it, a smoked sausage will work.
• Breadcrumbs: Panko breadcrumbs make a nice crispy topping. You can also skip the breadcrumb topping, if desired.
• Butter: You just need a little bit of butter to help crisp up the topping.

How to Make Cheesy Baked Cajun Pasta

STEP 1: Cook the pasta. Once tender, drain and reserve the pasta.

STEP 2: Meanwhile, heat the oil then add the onion and pepper. Cook until tender, then add the garlic. Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables.

STEP 3: Pour in the milk and bring it to a simmer. Add in the cream cheese and cook until softened, then add in the cheddar and the gruyere.

STEP 4: In another skillet, heat the remaining oil and add the kielbasa. Cook until browned.

STEP 5: Combine the pasta, kielbasa, and cheese mixture. Pour into a baking dish.

STEP 6: Combine the breadcrumbs and the butter, then sprinkle over the pasta. Bake until bubbling.

More Baked Pasta Dishes

Baked Ravioli
Beef and Blue Cheese Baked Spaghetti
Chicken Alfredo Stuffed Shells

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Cheesy Baked Cajun Pasta

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Author: Deborah Harroun

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes minutes

Servings: 8 servings

Course: Main Dish

Cuisine: Cajun

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Take comfort to the max with this Cheesy Baked Cajun Pasta! Penne pasta is combined with a rich cheese sauce with cajun flavors and sliced sausage throughout. It’s filling and comforting!

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Ingredients

• ▢ 1 lb penne pasta
• ▢ 2 tablespoons olive oil divided
• ▢ 1 cup chopped onion
• ▢ 1 medium green bell pepper chopped
• ▢ salt and pepper
• ▢ 1 clove garlic minced
• ▢ 1 tablespoon flour
• ▢ 1 1/2 cups milk
• ▢ 4 oz cream cheese cut into pieces
• ▢ 2 teaspoons cajun seasoning
• ▢ 8 oz extra sharp Cheddar cheese shredded
• ▢ 8 oz Gruyere cheese shredded
• ▢ 1 (12 oz) package kielbasa sliced
• ▢ 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
• ▢ 1 tablespoon butter melted

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 425ºF. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente. Drain.
  1 lb penne pasta
• Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and the pepper. Season with salt and pepper. Cook until very tender, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for one minute, then sprinkle the flour over the top. Stir and cook for another minute.
  1 tablespoons olive oil, 1 cup chopped onion, 1 medium green bell pepper, salt and pepper, 1 clove garlic, 1 tablespoon flour
• Slowly pour the milk into the onion mixture, whisking to combine. Bring to a simmer, then add in the cream cheese and the cajun seasoning. Cook until the cream cheese has softened, then stir in both the cheddar and the gruyere.
  1 1/2 cups milk, 4 oz cream cheese, 2 teaspoons cajun seasoning, 8 oz extra sharp Cheddar cheese, 8 oz Gruyere cheese
• Heat the remaining tablespoon of oil in another skillet. Add the kielbasa and cook, turning, until browned on both sides.
  1 (12 oz) package kielbasa, 1 tablespoons olive oil
• In the pot you used to boil the pasta, combine the drained pasta, the kielbasa and the cheese mixture. Stir to combine, then pour into the prepared baking dish.
• In a bowl, mix together the breadcrumbs and butter until all of the breadcrumbs are coated. Sprinkle over the top of the pasta. Place into the preheated oven.
  1 cup panko breadcrumbs, 1 tablespoon butter
• Bake until bubbling and the breadcrumbs have browned, 10-12 minutes. Serve warm.

Recipe Notes:

adapted from Woman’s Day

Keywords: baked pasta