Creamy Spicy Pasta
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 432kcal
This quick and easy Creamy Spicy Pasta recipe tosses your favorite pasta in a rich and smoky Cajun-inspired cream sauce. It comes together in less than 30 minutes, making it easy to whip up a batch whenever you’re craving a comforting pasta dinner with a kick!
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Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 Tablespoon butter
- 1 shallot minced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 Tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 14.5 ounce can crushed fire roasted tomatoes or regular crushed tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons cajun seasoning
- Pinch red pepper flakes
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese
- 12 ounces pasta cooked according to package directions
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Red pepper flakes and parsley optional, for garnish
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil.
- Meanwhile, heat the 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil and 1 Tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1 shallot and cook for 3-5 minutes, until softened. Add 3 cloves garlic and cook 30 seconds longer, until fragrant.
- Add 2 Tablespoons tomato paste and continue to cook 1 minute longer.
- Add in 1 14.5 ounce can crushed fire roasted tomatoes, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 2 teaspoons cajun seasoning and Pinch red pepper flakes. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Simmer for about 10 minutes, while the pasta cooks.
- While sauce simmers, add your 12 ounces pasta to the boiling water and cook until al dente. 1 – 2 minutes less than called for on the package directions. Drain, reserving 1 cup of pasta water.
- To your sauce, add the 1 cup heavy cream, ¼ cup parmesan cheese, and salt and pepper to taste.
- Add the pasta and stir to combine. Add pasta water, if needed, to thin the sauce a bit.
- Top with additional parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes, if desired. Enjoy!
Notes
Tips and tricks
- Only boil the pasta until it’s al dente (tender with a slightly firm bite). The noodles will continue to cook when they’re added to the skillet with the sauce and you don’t want them to overcook or become mushy.
- The starchy pasta cooking water is the secret to a velvety pasta sauce that sticks to the noodles. Don’t forget to save some before draining the rest!
- Creamy pasta recipes like this Cajun pasta are best served right away. If it sits too long, the pasta will absorb too much sauce, become soggy, and lose its luxurious consistency.
- Refrigerate the leftover creamy spicy pasta in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- To reheat, add a splash of cream or milk to the bowl of pasta and microwave it in short intervals, stirring in between, until heated through. Or, reheat gently on the stovetop over low heat, stirring frequently.
Nutrition
Calories: 432kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 53mg | Sodium: 140mg | Potassium: 266mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1248IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 97mg | Iron: 1mg