Cajun Surf & Turf Pasta: Shrimp, Sausage & Chicken Magic
This Cajun surf and turf pasta brings together juicy shrimp, smoky andouille sausage, and blackened chicken in a glossy dark Cajun glaze. Tossed with thick noodles and colorful bell peppers, it’s restaurant-quality comfort food you can make at home in under 45 minutes.
- Total Time45 minutes
- Yield4 servings 1x
Ingredients
Units
Scale
The Trio Proteins
- 1 lb large shrimp (peeled and deveined)
- 1 link andouille sausage or smoked kielbasa (sliced into thick rounds)
- 2 chicken breasts (seasoned heavily)
Pasta & Vegetables
- 1 lb thick spaghetti, bucatini, or udon noodles
- 0.5 red bell pepper (diced)
- 0.5 green bell pepper (diced)
- 0.5 onion (diced)
- 1 tbsp fresh garlic (minced)
- green onions (for garnish)
The Dark Cajun Glaze
- 0.5 cup chicken broth
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 tbsp Cajun seasoning (Slap Ya Mama or Old Bay)
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tbsp soy sauce (for the dark gloss)
- 1 tbsp brown sugar (for the glaze shine)
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Boil thick noodles in salted water until al dente. Drain, reserving ¼ cup pasta water. Toss with a little oil to prevent sticking.
- Sear the Chicken: Coat chicken breasts heavily in Cajun seasoning. Sear in a large skillet with olive oil until fully cooked and blackened. Remove and let rest.
- Sear the Sausage: In the same pan, sear sausage rounds until dark brown and crispy on edges. Remove and set aside.
- Sear the Shrimp: Toss shrimp in Cajun spice. Sear quickly, 2 minutes per side, until curled and glazed. Remove immediately.
- Make the Glossy Sauce: Add butter to the hot skillet. Sauté peppers and onions for 3 minutes until soft. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds. Pour in chicken broth, soy sauce, brown sugar, and remaining Cajun seasoning. Simmer 3-4 minutes until syrupy and glossy.
- Combine Everything: Add cooked noodles and sausage to the sauce. Toss vigorously to coat in the dark glaze. Fold in shrimp, reserving some for topping. Plate and top with sliced chicken and green onions.
Notes
The combination of soy sauce and brown sugar creates the signature dark, glossy color of this Cajun pasta. Don’t skip it! Also, avoid cleaning the pan between proteins—those caramelized bits add incredible depth of flavor to the final dish.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Main Course
- Cuisine: American, Cajun, Southern
Nutrition
- Calories: 685
- Sodium: 1450
- Fat: 28
- Saturated Fat: 11
- Carbohydrates: 52
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 48
