Description

A bold and creamy Southern-inspired dish, this Cajun Ranch Shrimp and Sausage Pasta Skillet combines tender shrimp, smoky sausage, and savory ground beef with rotini pasta in a rich Cajun ranch sauce. It’s a one-skillet meal perfect for busy weeknights or indulgent weekends, bursting with spice and flavor.

Ingredients

Scale

1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined

1/2 lb smoked sausage, sliced

1/2 lb ground beef (optional)

2 cups rotini pasta

2 tbsp olive oil

1 tbsp Cajun seasoning

1 tsp paprika

1 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp onion powder

1/2 tsp black pepper

1 tsp dried parsley

1/2 cup ranch dressing

1/2 cup heavy cream

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/2 cup shredded mozzarella or cheddar (optional)

Salt, to taste

Instructions

Boil pasta in salted water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
In a large skillet, heat 1 tbsp olive oil and brown sausage slices. Remove and set aside.
In the same skillet, cook ground beef until browned. Drain and set aside.
Heat remaining oil in the skillet. Cook shrimp with Cajun seasoning and paprika until pink. Remove and set aside.
Reduce heat to low. Add ranch dressing and heavy cream. Stir in garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and parsley. Simmer for 3–4 minutes.
Add pasta, sausage, beef, and shrimp to the skillet. Stir to coat evenly.
Add Parmesan cheese and adjust seasoning. Top with shredded cheese if desired and cover until melted.