Instant Pot Cajun Pasta
Instant Pot Creamy Cajun Pasta is filled with spicy smoked sausage and bell peppers, and then drenched in a homemade cheesy sauce! Dinner is ready in minutes!
Ingredients
- 4 Eckrich Jalapeno & Cheddar Smoked Sausage Links, sliced
- 1 TBS olive oil
- 1 tsp garlic, minced
- 1 yellow onion, peeled and sliced
- 2 bell peppers - any color variety, seeds removed and sliced
- 1 ½ TBS cajun seasoning
- 4 cups chicken or vegetable broth, reduced sodium
- 1 pound penne pasta, or any short pasta variety
- 1 ¾ cups heavy cream
- 6 ounces freshly grated parmesan cheese, **grate the cheese yourself to melt well
- 1 handful fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
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Set the Instant Pot to SAUTE mode. Add olive oil, peppers, onions, garlic, and sausage. Add the cajun seasoning and stir while cooking. Cook 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
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Add broth and pasta. Press the pasta down into the broth using a wooden spoon, but the pasta does NOT need to be covered.
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Close the lid, make sure the pressure valve is in the sealed position, then set the pot to manual/high for 3 minutes. * You should remember when using the Instant Pot, the pot needs some time to ‘come to pressure’. Since there is a lot of liquid in this recipe, it might take 10-15 minutes. Once it is ready, the timer will start counting down. Don't worry!
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Once the 3-minute timer is up, leave the pot for 5 minutes to naturally release the pressure. Carefully flip the valve to release the rest of the pressure. Open the top, then mix the pasta.
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Add 1 and ¾ cups of heavy cream to the pot, then add the freshly grated parmesan cheese. Stir everything around, then put the lid on top again, and let the pasta sit for 5 minutes or so; this will thicken the sauce.
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After 5 minutes, open the lid and then stir it around. Top with some fresh parsley and serve!
Recipe Notes
You can use red, yellow, or orange peppers in this recipe; whatever is easiest works well. You can also add other vegetables such as mushrooms, zucchini, or tomatoes- yum!