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This cajun Pastalaya recipe is a one-pot, 30-minute twist on classic Jambalaya that swaps rice for pasta. If you're looking for a quick, comforting weeknight dinner the whole family will devour, this easy pasta jambalaya delivers!
Pasta night, Louisiana-Style
Pastalaya is a favorite in our home! We've been making Jambalaya for years, but swapping the rice to noodles is a game changer and all of my kids like this version even more! I use Polska Kielbasa to keep it on the milder side for my kids, but you can absolutely kick up the heat if you like it spicy. The best part? It comes together in just 30 minutes, which means even on the most chaotic weeknights, a hot, homemade dinner is totally doable.
Check out all of my one pot meals, like Creamy Chicken and Gnocchi, Crock Pot Baked Ziti, Biscuit Chicken Pot Pie, One Pan Skillet Lasagna, and Mongolian Noodles.
How to make Pastalaya:
Brown Meat: In a large skillet or dutch oven, heat oil over medium high heat. Once hot, brown chicken and sausage, flipping once without cooking the chicken all the way. Remove the meat to a bowl.
Sauté Vegetables: Turn the heat down to medium then add remaining oil and scrape up any remaining browned bits from the meat. Dump in onions, celery, bell pepper, and garlic and stir and cook for 3 minutes.
Combine and Serve: Add basil, Cajun seasoning, diced tomatoes, salt, and pepper then stir well. Pour in chicken broth, water, and dry pasta then bring to a gentle boil. Stir in the reserved meat then reduce the heat and cover pan with a lid. Let cook for about 11 minutes, only taking off the lid to stir once or twice. Serve pastalaya with a side salad and baguette, or crusty bread. If you love this meal, don't miss my Jambalaya, Instant Pot Jambalaya, and Gumbo recipes!
Pastalaya
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons oil, , vegetable or canola
- 1 lb andouille sausages*, , cut into coins
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, , cut into bite-size pieces
- 1 yellow or white onion, chopped
- 4 green onions, , chopped
- 3 ribs celery, , chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, , chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, , finely minced
- 1 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 1/2 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, , optional, for hotter spice, if desired.
- 14.5 ounce can petite diced tomatoes
- 2 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- ½ cup water
- 1 lb penne pasta, , or Banza chickpea penne
Instructions
- Add oil to a large skillet (minimum 12×2’’) or dutch oven over medium high heat. Once hot, add the chicken and cook, flipping once, to brown on all sides (don't cook chicken through). Remove to a bowl. Add sausage and cook until browned on both sides. Add to the bowl with the chicken.2 Tablespoons oil, 1 ½ pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, 1 lb andouille sausages*
- Reduce heat to medium and add remaining oil to the pan, scraping up any leftover browned bits from the pan. Add onions, celery, bell pepper, and garlic then sauté for 3 minutes. Add basil, Cajun seasoning, diced tomatoes, salt and pepper then stir well to combine.1 yellow or white onion, 4 green onions, 3 ribs celery, 1 green bell pepper, 4 cloves garlic, 1 ½ teaspoon dried basil, 1 ½ teaspoon Cajun seasoning, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 14.5 ounce can petite diced tomatoes, ½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- Add chicken broth, water, and dry pasta and bring mixture to a gentle boil. Add reserved meat to the pan. Reduce heat, cover pan with fitted lid, and cook for about 11 minutes. Remove lid to stir once or twice during cooking.2 ½ cups low-sodium chicken broth, ½ cup water, 1 lb penne pasta
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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I originally shared this recipe February 2024. Updated February 2026.
made this tonight & for my taste buds it was just ok. i honestly wouldnt make it again, but i also dont care for jambalaya, so if you do this would hit for you.. also 3/4 teaspoon of cajun wouldve been enough for my toddlers, it was spicy for them.. the flavor was all there, it just wasnt for me
The seasonings on this are delicious! We made it for dinner with the chickpea pasta, my husband took it to work for his lunch and everyone commented on how delicious it smelled. We enjoyed it so much we made it again in the same week but used rice since we were out of pasta.
My husband really loved this recipe, but did add extra Cajun seasoning and jalapeno’s to his serving. It is easy to pull together and makes a lot. Thanks for the great challenge recipe!
This was a hit with my family of 7! I made some changes – didn’t have chicken so just used sausage (polska because my kids don’t like spicy), and used less of the cajun seasoning. I also added a can of tomato sauce because I doubled the noodles (family of 7!). Everyone had seconds, so I would call it a success!!
This was a hit with my family of 7! I made some changes – didn’t have chicken so just used sausage (polska because my kids don’t like spicy), and used less of the cajun seasoning. I also added a can of tomato sauce because I doubled the noodles (family of 7!). Everyone had seconds, so I would call it a success!!
Delicious recipe! So full of flavor and it comes together very easily. Perfect weeknight dinner!
LOVE this dinner! The whole house smelled amazing. We used amylu andouille chicken sausage. Love that this is macro-friendly!
Kids and my husband loved this. It was easy and delicious. Those are THE best recipes.
This recipe is easy to put together–with ingredients I almost always already have on hand. The whole family enjoyed this.
I made this for my husband and four daughters yesterday and it was a hit! Multiple helpings, etc. Delicious and flavorful! The Andouille really makes a difference.
simple and easy to put together throughly enjoyed this. especially with issues I have with my jaw this was perfect