Chicken and Sausage Pastalaya is packed with the bold Cajun flavors you'd expect from a classic jambalaya, but made with pasta instead of rice. This one-pot recipe skips the heavy cream and stays true to the rich, savory flavors of traditional Louisiana cooking.
Made with juicy chicken thighs, spicy smoked sausage, the Cajun trinity, and a blend of seasonings, everything simmers together with pasta until it's perfectly seasoned and full of flavor...my Cajun family loves this recipe, just like they love my Easy Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya!
Quick Look: One Pot Cajun Pastalaya
- ⏲️Ready in: 30 minutes
- 👪Serves: 6
- 🥘Key Ingredients: Chicken thighs, sausage, pasta, broth, onion, bell pepper, celery, Cajun/Creole seasoning
- 🍳Method: One Pot Stovetop
- ⭐Difficulty: Easy
- 👩🍳Texture/Flavor: Rich, smoky Cajun flavor with tender chicken and pasta.
- ☀️Best For: Busy nights and feeding a hungry crowd.
- ✅Why You'll Love It: All the flavor of jambalaya but made with pasta!
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If you're in the mood for another Cajun pasta recipe, my Blackened Chicken Alfredo is rich, creamy, and full of bold flavor.
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Why You'll Love It
One pot - the entire meal is made with just one pot! The pasta cooks with the chicken, sausage, and seasonings making this an easy, all inclusive meal that's perfect for busy weeknights as well as date nights 😉
Short-cut step - because this recipe uses the frozen chopped onion, bell pepper, and celery blend, you'll save yourself chopping time and sauteing time (the frozen blend doesn't take as long to soften).
Flavor inside and out - this recipe uses ziti pasta. You could use any type of pasta, but for me, I like they way the sauce and seasonings find their way inside the ziti (it's totally tubular, man)! Did anybody get that reference, lol?
Budget friendly - assuming you already have the basic pantry ingredients, such as the oil and seasonings, the cost of this meal is approximately $21 or $3.50 per serving. The cost was based on using store brands (as of July 2026).
Dairy free - there are different versions of this recipe out there, and some use cream to thicken up the sauce and that's cool, however, I like to keep this version as true to jambalaya as possible.
For another Cajun pasta dish, try my Cajun Sausage Spaghetti featuring smoky andouille sausage, tender pasta, and a rich sauce with just the right kick of Cajun heat.
Key Ingredients
Please check out the recipe card for the complete list of ingredients for pastalaya.
Chicken thighs - it's really hard to dry out chicken thighs and that's why I use them for this recipe. Thighs stay juicy and tender for this dish.
Smoked sausage - you can use any brand or style sausage for pastalaya but I like to recommend a smoked, spicy sausage such as Conecuh or andouille (for the added flavor boost).
Ziti pasta - any kind of pasta will work, but if you want the seasonings to cling to the pasta or get inside the nooks and crannies, use ziti, penne, or even spiral.
Cajun or creole seasoning - these seasonings are perfectly blended for that authentic Louisiana flavor! You can easily adjust the heat level by using more or less.
Chicken broth - you'll need to get either a 32-oz box or two 16-oz cans of broth (8 cups chicken broth). It seems like a lot of broth, but this amount is perfect to cook the pasta.
Frozen seasoning blend - I love this short cut! I always keep a bag of this in my freezer. Pre-chopped onion, bell pepper, and celery is just so convenient!
If you're a fan of hearty Cajun comfort food, be sure to try my One Pot Hoppin' John made with smoked sausage and rice.
Ingredient Substitutions
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts work well if you prefer leaner meat. Just be careful not to overcook them since they dry out more quickly than thighs.
- Andouille is my first choice for authentic Cajun flavor, but Conecuh or any smoked sausage will work. For less heat, choose a mild smoked sausage.
- Penne, rigatoni, rotini, or farfalle are all great options. Short pasta shapes hold the sauce and seasonings best.
- Either Cajun or Creole seasoning works well. If your seasoning contains a lot of salt, wait until the end to taste before adding extra.
- Chicken stock can be substituted for a slightly richer flavor. In a pinch, water can be used, but the finished dish won't be quite as flavorful.
- No frozen blend? Dice 1 medium onion, 1 green bell pepper, and 2-3 celery stalks instead.
How to Make One Pot Cajun Pastalaya
Did I mention you can make this the day before you plan to eat it? It's even better the next day!
Photo 1: Brown the chicken in a dutch oven or large pot. Remove chicken from the pot and set aside.
Photo 2: Add sausage to the pot, then add the onion, bell pepper, and celery. Simmer for 5 minutes.
Photo 3: Return the chicken to the pot and add the remaining ingredients. Taste test for flavor.
Photo 4: Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat, and simmer 15 minutes. Ready to eat!
If you enjoy one-pot Cajun meals, my One Pot Chicken Creole and Rice is another family favorite packed with bold Louisiana flavor.
Anne's Recipe Tips
Don't skip browning the meats! This is what seals in the juices and keeps the chicken and sausage from drying out. Be careful not to completely cook the meats; we want a nice browning on the outside and that's all!
Be sure to scrape up all those little bits of flavor at the bottom of the pan after browning (searing) the meats as indicated in Step 2 of the recipe card.
If you prefer to use fresh vegetables instead of the frozen vegetables, you can use 1 cup chopped onion, ½ cup chopped bell pepper, and ½ cup chopped celery.
While the pastalaya is cooking, why not make some Cajun Deviled Eggs? They pair well with this dish!
My Cajun Rice Dressing is another classic Cajun comfort food that's perfect for holidays or Sunday supper.
Cajun Pastalaya FAQs
If you want a side for your pastalaya, you can have crusty French bread and a green salad. You can serve chopped green onions on the side for those who like to use them as a topping.
Keep the leftovers covered in the fridge for up to 3 days. By the way, pastalaya leftovers are fantastic because the pasta continues to absorb all the flavorful juices as it sits in the fridge!
Instead of chicken, you can use pork (or a combination of the two). You can also use peeled and deveined shrimp (add large, raw shrimp during the last 5 minutes of cook time).
More Easy Cajun Dinner Ideas
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Recipe
One Pot Cajun Pastalaya
Equipment
- 5-6 qt Lodge Dutch oven Enameled cast iron, stove top and oven safe
- OXO measuring cups Stainless steel, magnetic
- OXO measuring spoons Easy to read markings
Ingredients
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 pound chicken thighs, boneless, skinless, cut into 1" pieces
- 1 pound smoked link sausage, sliced into 1" discs Andouille or Conecuh
- 10 ounces frozen seasoning blend (onion, bell pepper, and celery mix)
- 14.5 ounces tomatoes, diced, canned (basil, garlic, and oregano)
- 32 ounces chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon Cajun seasoning (such as Tony Chachere's or Slap Ya Mama) add more to suit your taste preference
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 3 cups uncooked ziti pasta (I use Barilla)
Instructions
- In a heavy 5-quart pan, or dutch oven, over medium-high heat, add olive oil and brown the cut up chicken that has been seasoned with Tony's (NOTE: this is not the amount in the ingredient list; simply sprinkle the cut-up chicken with a little [or a lot] Tony's) for 3-5 minutes. Do not cook the chicken through. Remove chicken from pot.
- Add the sliced sausage to the pot and brown for 5 minutes. Then add the onion, bell pepper, and celery. Mix well and scrape bottom of pan to remove and incorporate any browned pieces of chicken and sausage. Simmer covered on medium heat for about 5 minutes, stirring halfway through cooking.
- Return chicken to pot and add the tomatoes, broth, and seasonings above. Mix well and taste for flavor. Add pasta and mix well.
- Bring mixture to a boil, cover, and lower heat to medium-low (aim for a slow, bubbly simmer). Cook for 15 minutes or until pasta is done.
Notes
- Cook the pasta just until al dente; it will continue to soften as it rests.
- If there's a little broth left in the pot, let the pastalaya rest for 5-10 minutes and the pasta will absorb it.
- Stir occasionally while the pasta cooks to prevent sticking.
- Taste before serving and adjust the Cajun/Creole seasoning if needed, since brands vary in salt and spice.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy to my readers. I'm not a nutritionist and I don't guarantee the accuracy of this data. The data may differ according to the brands I used versus the brands you use. To calculate the data yourself using your brands, try using an online nutrition calculator or app.
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