Vegan Cajun Pasta

This Vegan Cajun Pasta with Smoked Sausage is just bursting with flavor. You can have this dinner on your plate in 30 minutes. It is guaranteed that the whole family will love it.

*Originally published July 7, 2021 and updated with new copy and photos 4/1/22.

Do I have any spice fans out there? The closest thing I get to being a fan of spice is the Spice Girls. Just kidding, I enjoy spice every once in a while but I am pretty mild in my flavor pairings. This Vegan Cajun Pasta is perfect because it delivers big, bold flavors and a medium spice profile coming from the cajun seasoning. This pasta dish comes together in 30 minutes and delivers all those flavors that you dream about when you think of cajun cooking. You won't want to miss this one!

For some other great pasta dishes, check out this Creamy Green Pea Pasta, this Healthy Vegan Taco Pasta Bake or this Easy Spicy Rigatoni Alla Vodka.

What Makes This Vegan Cajun Pasta The Best

• Ready in 30 Minutes- This pasta will be on your table in just 30 minutes! It is perfect for those busy days when you are crunched for time but still want a delicious dinner.
• Family Friendly- This pasta has a little kick but isn't too spicy due to the creaminess of the red pepper pesto. The whole family is guaranteed to love it. Even the meat eaters!
• Great for Meal Prep- This pasta is great for meal prepping! I like to make a batch of it on Sunday nights and then eat it throughout the week!

Ingredient Notes

• Vegan Sausage- Part of what makes this cajun pasta so delicious is the vegan sausage. I love using Beyond Meat's Hot Italian Sausage because it mimics the taste and flavor of Andouille sausage pretty well. However if you can't find Beyond Meat where you live, any vegan sausage will work!
• Red Pepper Pesto- The sauce in this pasta dish is a red pepper pesto. Most stores don't carry a vegan version of red pepper pesto so with just a few staple ingredients, you can make it at home!
• Cajun Seasoning- Part of what makes this recipe so delicious is the cajun seasoning in it. You can purchase any cajun seasoning that you prefer at the store, my favorite is the Slap Ya Mama brand.

See the recipe card for the full ingredient list and quantities.

Instructions

• Make the Red Pepper Pesto and set aside
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Once the water is boiling, add in the penne pasta and cook it for 10-12 minutes or until al dente.
• Dice the bell pepper, onion, and celery and add to a hot cast-iron skillet. Saute over medium heat until the vegetables are soft and tender. About 5 minutes

• Slice the beyond sausage into coins and add to the bell pepper mix. Cook on medium-high heat until the sausage starts to brown. About 5 minutes.
• After the pasta is finished cooking, drain and add to the skillet alongside the sausage and vegetables and toss with the pesto.
• Serve Immediately

Hint: Reserve ½ cup of the pasta water before draining and add it to the sauce. The salty, starchy water not only adds flavor but helps glue the pasta and sauce together

Check out this Green Pasta Sauce or this Spicy Rigatoni Alla Vodka for another fun pasta recipe!

Substitutions

• Vegan Sausage - If you prefer to keep this Whole-Food Plant Based, you can make your own vegan "ground sausage" from chickpeas and walnuts and season with cajun seasoning. Just add 1 can of chickpeas and 1 cup of walnuts to a food processor with 2 tablespoons of water and the cajun seasoning. Process until ground and then bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Use as you would ground sausage.
• Red Pepper Pesto - If you can't find vegan red pepper pesto at the store and don't have the ingredients to make your own, you can purchase a jar of vegan pesto and add it to a blender with some fire roasted red bell peppers for an easy swap!
• Penne - You don't have to use penne for this recipe, you can use any type of pasta that you want, however, I would recommend one with ridges.

Variations

• Less Spicy - Use a mild vegan sausage and cut the amount of cajun seasoning in half.
• Extra Veggies - Feel free to load this pasta up with veggies! I like to use neutral-flavored vegetables like zucchini, eggplant, or broccoli.
• Vegan Chicken- If you don't want to make this with vegan sausage, feel free to use your favorite vegan chicken brand. I LOVE making this with the new Impossible nuggets!

FAQ's

Equipment

Equipment can have a big impact on how a recipe turns out. See below for the equipment you will need to make this recipe.

• Nonstick pan
• Dutch oven or large stockpot
• Chef knife
• Wooden Spoons
• Cutting Board
• Measuring cups and spoons

Storage

Store the pasta in an airtight container for up to three days in the refrigerator. Reheat in the microwave. The noodles will soak up more of the sauce as it sits so just be aware of that.

I would not recommend freezing this recipe as the cooked noodles will fall apart when thawed.

Top Tips

• It is always helpful to have your ingredients prepped and ready to go when making this meal. I love to have all my ingredients diced before adding them to the skillet. If you don't add everything to the skillet at the same time it will not finish cooking altogether.
• Reserve ½ cup of the pasta water before draining and add it to the sauce. The salty, starchy water not only adds flavor but helps glue the pasta and sauce together. It will also help to thicken the sauce.
• Make sure to cook the pasta until just al-dente. It will finish cooking in the sauce.

Other Great Pasta Recipes You Will Love

• The Best Green Pasta Sauce
• Easy and Delicious Vegan Stuffed Shells
• Easy Spicy Rigatoni Alla Vodka
• Fall Butternut Squash Vegan Tortellini

Vegan Cajun Pasta

kaydimaggio

This Vegan Cajun Pasta is just bursting with flavor. It is guaranteed that the whole family will love it. With flavors coming from a smoky cajun seasoning blend and deep, rich flavors coming from a red pepper pesto, this nutritious dish is sure to win fans.

5 from 9 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 20 mins

Total Time 30 mins

Course Entree

Cuisine American

Servings 6 servings

Calories 344 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 red bell pepper
• 1 green bell pepper
• 3 stalks celery
• 1 yellow onion
• 1 package spicy vegan sausage
• 16 oz penne pasta
• 2 tablespoons cajun seasoning
• 1 batch Red Pepper Pesto Sauce

Instructions

 

• Make the Red Pepper Pesto and set aside
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Once the water is boiling, add in the penne pasta and cook it for 10-12 minutes or until al dente.
• Dice the bell pepper, onion, and celery and add to a hot cast-iron skillet. Saute over medium heat until the vegetables are soft and tender. About 5 minutes
• Slice the beyond sausage into coins and add to the bell pepper mix. Cook on medium-high heat until the sausage starts to brown. About 5 minutes.
• After the pasta is finished cooking, drain and add to the skillet alongside the sausage and vegetables and toss with the pesto.
• Serve Immediately 

Notes

• It is always helpful to have your ingredients prepped and ready to go when making this meal. I love to have all my ingredients diced before adding them to the skillet. If you don't add everything to the skillet at the same time it will not finish cooking altogether.
• Reserve ½ cup of the pasta water before draining and add it to the sauce. The salty, starchy water not only adds flavor but helps glue the pasta and sauce together. It will 

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 344kcalCarbohydrates: 18.1gProtein: 4.5gFat: 29.4gSaturated Fat: 4.5gSodium: 150mgFiber: 1.3gSugar: 2.1g

Keyword cajun, pasta, Pesto, Vegan

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