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Home » Recipes » Main Courses and Sides

Shrimp and Sausage Pasta Red Sauce

Modified: Dec 3, 2025 · Published: Mar 3, 2021 by Nicole B. · Leave a Comment
Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
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This easy spicy shrimp and sausage pasta red sauce is inspired by both Cajun and Mexican cuisine. It has a deep and complex flavor from smoked paprika, smoked Andouille sausages and chipotle pepper in adobo sauce.

  • The Andouille sausage is hearty and smoky and the shrimp add great contrast with their light, sea-salty flavor.
  • Both the sausage and the shrimp are cut into bite-sized pieces in this recipe so you get either meat or seafood in every bite. And because there is shrimp and sausage you don't get the same thing in every bite. That adds a lot of complexity and makes for a really satisfying meal.
Shrimp and sausage pasta red sauce in a pan.

Ingredients and notes:

What's makes this sauce special are the chipotle pepper and adobo sauce that I added in addition to the traditional cajun flavors. The smokiness and tang of the chipotle adds complexity and gives the sauce a rich and even slightly earthy flavor.

Shrimp and sausage pasta ingredients on a table.

Full Recipe

Shrimp and sausage pasta red sauce in a pan.
Author: Nicole B.

Shrimp and Sausage Pasta Red Sauce

This spicy shrimp and sausage pasta red sauce is full of deep, smoky flavor and quick and easy to make.
Print Version (does not include images) Pin Recipe
Cook Time: 30 minutes mins
Total Time: 30 minutes mins
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main
Cuisine: Cajun-inspired, Mexican
Calories: 617
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Equipment:

  • measuring cups and spoons
  • knife and cutting board
  • pot
  • colander
  • garlic press (optional)
  • nonstick pan or cast iron pan
  • slotted spoon
  • wooden spoon
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Ingredients:
  

  • 8 ounces uncooked pasta*
  • 3 ounces raw shrimp**, thawed, peeled and deveined
  • 6 ounces pre-cooked smoked Andouille sausage
  • 1 large jalapeno pepper***
  • ¼ of a medium-sized yellow onion (about 2 ounces)
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 2 teaspoons mild olive oil
  • ¼ teaspoon smoked hot paprika
  • ½ cup chicken broth
  • 1 cup canned crushed tomatoes (about 9 ounces)
  • 1 teaspoon finely diced canned chipotle pepper (about ½ a small chipotle pepper)
  • 1 teaspoon canned adobo sauce (from the can of chipotle peppers)
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 2 tablespoons heavy cream
  • fresh thyme as garnish (optional)

Method:
 

  1. Cook the pasta to desired doneness, drain, cover and set aside.
    8 ounces uncooked pasta*
  2. Meanwhile prepare the meat and the vegetables: Cut the shrimp into bite-sized chunks. Cut the sausage into half moon pieces. Remove the seeds and ribs (the white membranes) from the jalapeno pepper, then finely dice the pepper and the onion. Mince or press the garlic clove. Set aside.
    3 ounces raw shrimp**, thawed, peeled and deveined, 6 ounces pre-cooked smoked Andouille sausage, 1 large jalapeno pepper***, ¼ of a medium-sized yellow onion (about 2 ounces), 1 garlic clove
    Prepared meat and vegetables in bowls.
  3. Heat the oil in a nonstick pan, then cook the shrimp and the sausage until the shrimp are cooked and the sausage is starting to brown (about 4 minutes). Transfer to a bowl using a slotted spoon.
    2 teaspoons mild olive oil
    Browned shrimp and sausage in a nonstick pan.
  4. Add onion and jalapeno pepper to the pan and saute until starting to soften (about 3 minutes). (There should be enough fat in the pan from the previous step, so you don't need to add any.)
    Sauteed onion and jalapeno pepper in a pan.
  5. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant (about 30 seconds).
  6. Stir in the paprika, then the chicken broth, canned crushed tomato, chipotle pepper, adobo sauce, thyme and tomato paste.
    ¼ teaspoon smoked hot paprika, ½ cup chicken broth, 1 cup canned crushed tomatoes (about 9 ounces), 1 teaspoon finely diced canned chipotle pepper (about ½ a small chipotle pepper), 1 teaspoon canned adobo sauce (from the can of chipotle peppers), ½ teaspoon dried thyme, 1 tablespoon tomato paste
    Red pasta sauce in a pan.
  7. Add the shrimp and sausage back in and bring to a simmer.
    Shrimp and sausage red pasta sauce being stirred in a pan.
  8. Turn the heat off, stir in the cream and serve with the pasta. Sprinkle with fresh thyme (optional).
    2 tablespoons heavy cream
    Shrimp and sausage pasta sauce in a pan.

Recipe notes:

*You can use long pasta (like spaghetti or linguine) or short-cut pasta (like penne or rigatoni).
**You can use any size shrimp because you'll cut the shrimp into bite-sized chunks. I recommend to get uncooked shrimp for best flavor.
***If jalapeno is not available, you can substitute ¼ green bell pepper.
Storage: Store the sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 day. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop. (Don't store sauce and pasta together because the pasta will soak the moisture out of the sauce and dry it out.)
Did you make this recipe?Please consider leaving a review- THANK YOU!

Nutrition (estimate only):

Calories: 617kcalCarbohydrates: 94.8gProtein: 31.3gFat: 12.6gSaturated Fat: 4.3gCholesterol: 97mgSodium: 597mgPotassium: 133mgFiber: 7.3gSugar: 9.3gCalcium: 68mgIron: 6mg

More delicious red sauces for pasta:

  • Bacon and chorizo pasta sauce in a non-stick pan.
    Bacon and Chorizo Pasta Sauce
    Cook Time30 Minutes
  • Jerk shrimp pasta on a plate with a spoon.
    Jerk Shrimp Pasta with Tomato Cream Sauce
    Cook Time45 Minutes
  • Meatball-stuffed pasta shells with tomato sauce in a baking dish.
    Frozen Meatball Stuffed Shells
    Cook Time1 Hours

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Hi there!

I'm Nicole, the cook and photographer behind this website (which I started all the way back in 2013). You'll find lots of delicious recipes here, all centered around spices.

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