Get your Cajun on with this simple One Pot Jambalaya Pasta. Chicken, sausage, shrimp, veggies and authentic Louisiana flavor layered over linguine and topped with fresh herbs. It’s quick, easy, and jam packed with flavor.
An Easy Pasta Dinner with Jambalaya Flavor!
Cajun or creole wasn’t a flavor profile I grew up with. So, the first time I tried Jambalaya, it was like fireworks in my mouth! Ever since then, it’s been a meal I circle back to pretty often.
Lately, I’ve been trying to find a way to make it more easily and with ingredients I have on hand more often. I bet I know what you’re thinking – those deep Cajun flavors don’t develop quickly or easily, it takes time. Yes, that’s true, but that’s also why I use my secret weapon for this meal.
Are you wondering what it is? A premade Cajun seasoning blend!
Cajun seasoning makes it possible to have a delicious one pot jambalaya pasta dish with all of the deep flavors you’re craving in just 30 minutes!
Recipe Ingredients
Jambalaya is basically a one-pot mash with loads of veggies, spices, and protein. It’s a great meal for substitutions and using up what you’ve got before ingredients go bad/expire. As long as you have the basics, really, anything goes!
Here’s what I suggest using:
- vegetable oil
- onion
- celery
- bell pepper
- chicken breasts
- andouille smoked sausage
- low sodium chicken broth
- tomato pasta sauce
- tomato paste
- Cajun seasoning
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- sweet paprika
- Salt and pepper
- linguine
- shrimp
- Chopped fresh parsley or cilantro
How to Make Jambalaya Pasta
- Saute: Heat oil in a dutch oven or large stockpot over medium heat. Add onions, celery, and bell peppers and cook for 1 minute.
- Add Meat: Stir in your cubed chicken and continue to cook, stirring frequently, for 4 minutes, or until chicken is no longer pink. Stir in your sausage slices and cook for 1 minute.
- Sauce: Add chicken broth, tomato sauce, and tomato paste. Stir to combine. Season with Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, sweet paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Simmer: Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally. Then, reduce the heat to a simmer and continue to cook for 15 minutes, stirring often.
- Add Shrimp: Add your raw, peeled, and deveined shrimp and stir to combine. Continue to cook for 10 to 12 more minutes, or until the linguine is soft and the shrimp is cooked through. Stir frequently.
- Serve: Remove the dutch oven or stock pot from heat. Garnish with parsley or cilantro, and serve.
Tips for the Best Jambalaya Pasta
Now, I already know I’ve got the best one pot jambalaya pasta recipe around, but here are some tips that will make it even better!
- Try to cut all of your veggies in similar bite-size pieces so they will cook evenly.
- If you’re craving a creamy sauce, fold in a bit of cream cheese before serving.
- As I mentioned above, purchasing and using a Cajun seasoning blend will save you so much time on this dish. You’ll get all the flavor in way less time.
- For extra flavor, make this in a cast iron pot.
- You can adjust the amount of Cajun seasoning you use to either make this meal less spicy or 5 alarms!
- There are lots of substitute options for the andouille sausage if you don’t have any or if it doesn’t fit into your diet. Try kielbasa, chicken, or pork sausage for a great flavor.
Serving Suggestions
Traditionally, Jambalaya is served with rice, but I prefer it with pasta. You can, of course, opt to have it with rice instead.
You can also sub out the type of pasta. I like linguine, but you might prefer a thicker pasta like fettuccine or bucatini or a thinner noodle like an angel hair.
If you are carb free, you can definitely serve this with riced cauliflower or zoodles. You can easily make the call based on your preferences.
How to Store and Reheat Jambalaya Pasta
- This recipe makes quite a bit of jambalaya so it is likely you’ll have leftovers. Store them in an airtight container in your refrigerator for about 3-4 days. As it sits, the pasta will continue to absorb some liquid and the sauce will develop a more intense spice.
- To reheat, add the contents back to your skillet. Over low heat. If it seems a bit dry, add in some more chicken broth and simmer until all of your protein is heated through.
One Pot Jambalaya Pasta
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 yellow onion diced
- 2 celery stalks sliced
- 1 red bell diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 1 pound chicken breasts, cut into cubes
- 1 pound Andouille smoked sausage, sliced
- 4½ cups low sodium chicken broth
- 1½ cups tomato pasta sauce
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning, use less if you don’t like it spicy
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- ½ tbsp onion powder
- ½ tbsp sweet or smoked paprika
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 pound dry linguine
- 1 pound raw shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails removed
- chopped fresh parsley or cilantro, to garnish
Instructions
- Heat oil in a dutch oven or large stockpot over medium heat.
- Add onions, celery, and bell peppers; cook for 1 minute.
- Stir in cubed chicken and continue to cook, stirring frequently, for 4 minutes, or until chicken is no longer pink.
- Stir in sausage slices and cook for 1 minute.
- Add chicken broth and stir; add tomato sauce, tomato paste and stir to combine.
- Season with Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, sweet paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Add linguine and bring mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally.
- Reduce heat to a simmer and continue to cook for 15 minutes, stirring often to prevent sticking.
- Add shrimp and stir to combine; continue to cook for 10 to 12 more minutes, or until linguine is soft and shrimp is cooked through. Stir frequently.
- Remove from heat.
- Garnish with parsley or cilantro, and serve.
20 Comments
Suzy
Mar 24, 2020 at 8:21 pmThe best kind of comfort food! Love the added spice to this pasta!
Katerina Petrovska
Mar 25, 2020 at 2:58 pmThank you! I hope you enjoy it! 🙂
Amanda
Mar 24, 2020 at 10:35 pmI absolutely love Jambalaya!!
Katerina Petrovska
Mar 25, 2020 at 3:00 pmThank YOU, Amanda! 🙂
Vikki
Mar 25, 2020 at 5:21 amThis jambalaya looks so colorful and tasty! Gotta make this ASAP
Katerina Petrovska
Mar 25, 2020 at 2:58 pmThank you! 🙂 I hope you enjoy it!
Carrie Robinson
Mar 25, 2020 at 3:01 pmI am loving that you went with pasta here instead of the usual rice! Looks delicious. 🙂
Katerina Petrovska
Mar 27, 2020 at 4:19 pmThank you, Carrie! 🙂
Sara Welch
Mar 25, 2020 at 8:31 pmServed this for dinner last night and it has easily become a new family favorite recipe! Looking forward to left overs for dinner tonight!
Katerina Petrovska
Mar 27, 2020 at 4:18 pmThat’s great! I am very happy you and your family enjoyed it! Thank YOU! 🙂
Cathy
Mar 26, 2020 at 8:06 pmThis is SO easy and delicious!
Glenn Gutierrez
Sep 28, 2020 at 8:31 amI will definitely try this recipe!
Katerina Petrovska
Sep 28, 2020 at 3:34 pmI hope you enjoy it! Thank YOU! 🙂
Katerina Petrovska
Sep 29, 2020 at 4:26 pmI hope you enjoy it! Thank YOU! 🙂
Tee
Jan 31, 2021 at 8:47 pmIt taste more like Italian pasta than jambalaya. It was pretty good but not exactly what I expected. I think I added too much Tomato sauce. I also added diced tomatoes and the tomato paste. I should’ve stuck with the exact recipe.
Sue
Jun 18, 2022 at 9:17 pmAbsolutely loved this recipe!! So flavourful and filling!! Thanks!
AshleyMara
Oct 27, 2022 at 8:55 pmGreat recipe, thanks!
Katerina Petrovska
Oct 28, 2022 at 12:49 pmI hope you enjoy it! Thank YOU! 🙂
cait
Oct 31, 2022 at 12:17 pmI’ve been making this for my husband for a couple years now and he loves it! Highly recommend.
Katerina Petrovska
Nov 1, 2022 at 11:24 amThat’s wonderful! I’m very happy you and your husband loved it! Thank YOU! 🙂