What about making a delicious Cajun Ninja Pastalaya? A one-dish meal that will give you all the flavors of Louisiana right in your own home. This recipe is easy to make and takes only 30 minutes from start to finish. Plus, you can customize this dish however you’d like!
In this article, you will learn about the history of this dish, the ingredients you will need to make it, and step-by-step directions on how to prepare your own Cajun Ninja Pastalaya.
What Is Cajun Ninja Pastalaya?
Cajun Ninja Pastalaya is a Louisiana-style pasta dish that combines the flavors of seafood, Italian sausage, and vegetables in one big pot. It’s an easy and delicious weeknight dinner that is sure to please the whole family.
The dish originated in New Orleans, Louisiana as a way to use up leftover seafood from fishing trips. It has since become popular all over the world for its unique flavor and convenience of preparation.
Where Did I First Try cajun ninja pastalaya?
My friend introduced me to Cajun Ninja Pastalaya while we were on a trip to New Orleans. She is a big fan of Cajun Ninja so she made their popular dish for us to try. I was immediately hooked!
The dish is a combination of seafood, sausage, and vegetables in a creamy sauce that is flavored with hot sauce and cajun seasoning. It’s a spicy and flavorful one-pot meal that is easy to make and comes together quickly.
I love the fact that you can customize it any way you’d like. You can use whatever type of seafood you have on hand and mix in some vegetables for a healthy dose of vitamins and minerals.
It’s also great for meal prepping since it keeps well in the refrigerator. I usually make a big batch over the weekend so that I can enjoy it throughout the week. When I made Cajun Ninja Pastalaya for the first time, I was surprised at how quickly it came together.
It only took me 30 minutes from start to finish and my family loved it! The combination of flavors is really unique and the dish has an amazing texture.
Every bite is flavorful with a slight kick of heat from the hot sauce and cajun seasoning. We all enjoyed it so much that we had to have it again and I’ve been making it ever since.
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Ingredients
- Italian Sausage: One of the most important ingredients when it comes to Cajun pastalaya is the Italian sausage as it adds a wonderful flavor and texture to the dish.
- Chicken Thighs: Boneless, skinless chicken thighs are used for this recipe as they provide great flavor and also keep the dish moist while cooking.
- Crawfish Tails: Crawfish tails add a distinct Louisiana flavor to the dish. You can use fresh or frozen crawfish tails for this recipe.
- Shrimp: You can use any type of shrimp you like such as small, medium, or large shrimp. Just be sure to devein the shrimp before adding it to the dish.
- Cream of Chicken Soup: This adds a nice creamy texture and flavor to the dish.
- Onion: Adds great flavor and texture to the dish.
- Green Bell Pepper: Adds a nice fresh flavor and crunch.
- Green Onion: A great way to add an extra layer of flavor to the dish.
- Celery: Celery adds a slightly earthy flavor that pairs nicely with the seafood.
- Texas Pete’s Hot Sauce: Adds a nice kick of heat to the dish.
- Aldi Minced Garlic: Adds a subtle garlic flavor that pairs nicely with the other flavors in the dish.
- Beef Bouillon Cube: Adds depth of flavor to the sauce.
- Cajun Seasoning: A great way to add authentic Cajun flavor to this dish.
- Crisco Pure Vegetable Oil: Used to brown the Italian sausage and other ingredients.
- Barilla Farfalle Pasta: A great type of pasta to use for this dish as it holds its shape and texture well.
- Kitchen Bouquet: Adds a nice caramelized flavor to the sauce.
Cooking Directions
Step 1
Chop the onion, bell pepper, green onion, and celery into small pieces. Heat vegetable oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add Italian sausage and cook for 5 minutes until lightly browned.
Step 2
Add chicken thighs, crawfish tails, shrimp, and vegetables to the pot and continue to cook for an additional 5 minutes.
Reduce heat to medium-low and add cream of chicken soup, Texas Pete’s Hot Sauce, minced garlic, beef bouillon cube, and Cajun seasoning. Simmer for 10 minutes until vegetables are tender.
Step 3
When the vegetables are done, add Kitchen Bouquet to the pot and stir to combine. Drain cooked pasta and add to pot with vegetables. Stir to combine and let simmer for 5 minutes before serving.
Cooking Tips
- Start by browning the Italian sausage over medium heat in vegetable oil.
- Add the vegetables into the pot once the Italian sausage is lightly browned and cook until tender.
- Make sure to properly devein your shrimp before adding it to the pot or else it will be very gritty.
- Once all the ingredients are in the pot, make sure to stir everything together before adding the pasta.
- Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning as needed.
- The key to making a great Cajun Ninja Pastalaya is to not overcook it. You want everything to be cooked through but still retain its texture and flavor.
What Ingredients Can I Replace or Substitute While Making It?
- If you don’t have crawfish tails, you can substitute them with shrimp or crabmeat.
- If you don’t like spicy food, you can omit the hot sauce and reduce the amount of cajun seasoning used.
- You can also substitute any other type of pasta for the farfalle such as penne or elbow macaroni.
- If you don’t have a kitchen bouquet, you can use Worcestershire sauce instead.
- You can also add some other vegetables such as carrots and celery to the dish if desired.
Cajun Ninja Pastalaya Recipe
Equipment
- 2 Large pots
- knife
- Gloves
Ingredients
- 39 grams Italian Sausage
- 16 oz Chicken Thighs – Boneless, Skinless
- 12 oz Crawfish tails
- 24 oz Shrimp
- 1 can Cream of Chicken Soup
- 1 large Onion
- 1 serving 1 Med. Green Bell Pepper
- 5 servings of Green Onion
- 2 stalks, large Celery
- 3 tsp Texas Pete's Hot Sauce
- 3 tsp Aldi Minced Garlic
- 3 serving Beef Bouillon – 1 cube
- 1.5 tsp Cajun Seasoning
- 4 tbsp Crisco Pure Vegetable Oil
- 8 serving Barilla Farfalle pasta
- 6 serving Kitchen Bouquet
Instructions
- Chop the onion, bell pepper, green onion, and celery into small pieces. Heat vegetable oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add Italian sausage and cook for 5 minutes until lightly browned.
- Add chicken thighs, crawfish tails, shrimp, and vegetables to the pot and continue to cook for an additional 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low and add cream of chicken soup, Texas Pete's Hot Sauce, minced garlic, beef bouillon cube, and Cajun seasoning. Simmer for 10 minutes until vegetables are tender.
- When the vegetables are done, add Kitchen Bouquet to the pot and stir to combine. Drain cooked pasta and add to pot with vegetables. Stir to combine and let simmer for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Start by browning the Italian sausage over medium heat in vegetable oil.
- Add the vegetables into the pot once the Italian sausage is lightly browned and cook until tender.
- Make sure to properly devein your shrimp before adding it to the pot or else it will be very gritty.
- Once all the ingredients are in the pot, make sure to stir everything together before adding the pasta.
- Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning as needed.
- The key to making a great Cajun Ninja Pastalaya is to not overcook it. You want everything to be cooked through but still retain its texture and flavor.
Nutrition Information
One serving of Cajun Ninja Pastalaya provides:
- 280 calories
- 17g fat (4 g saturated fat)
- 28g carbohydrates
- 6g fiber
- 21g protein.
How to Store Leftover cajun ninja pastalaya?
You can store leftover Cajun Ninja Pastalaya in an airtight container for up to 5 days. It is also freezer-friendly and can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. To reheat, simply put it in a microwave-safe bowl and heat until hot. You can also reheat it on the stovetop over medium heat until hot.
FAQs
Can pregnant women eat this?
Yes, pregnant women can eat Cajun Ninja Pastalaya as long as all the ingredients are cooked through. Since it contains shrimp and sausage, make sure to thoroughly cook both of them before eating.
Can I use different types of seafood?
Yes, you can definitely use different types of seafood in this dish. Feel free to substitute any type of seafood you like such as crab, mussels, or scallops.
Does this dish freeze well?
Yes, Cajun Ninja Pastalaya freezes really well and can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. Remember to thaw it completely before reheating.
What is the best way to serve Cajun Ninja Pastalaya?
Cajun Ninja Pastalaya tastes best when it is served hot and fresh out of the pot. You can serve it as a main dish on its own or with sides such as rice, potatoes, or salad.
Wrapping Up
Thanks for reading this recipe on how to make Cajun Ninja Pastalaya. This dish is the perfect way to enjoy a delicious seafood meal in just 30 minutes. It’s flavorful, easy to make, and freezer-friendly. Give it a try for your next dinner and you won’t be disappointed!
Therefore, if you’re looking for a quick, yet flavorful dish that can be prepared at any time with minimal effort, then Cajun Ninja Pastalaya is the perfect choice! You should share the recipe with your friends and family as well.
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Dr. Leah Alexander, M.D., is a board-certified Pediatrician in New Jersey and has been working at Elizabeth Pediatric Group of New Jersey since 2000.
She also has a passion for culinary arts that extends beyond the medical realm. After completing culinary school at the French Culinary Institute, she started Global Palate, LLC, a catering firm, in 2007. She ran her own six-year-old catering company and served small group parties as an owner and executive chef.