3 cups cooked penne pasta, boil until al dente (reserve half cup of pasta water for later)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small white onion chopped
2 cloves garlic minced
1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast cut into thin strips
2 ½ teaspoon Cajun seasoning spice
1 link smoked sausage sliced
1 small red onion, cut in half, then slice
½ green bell pepper sliced
½ red bell pepper sliced
½ cup tomato sauce
1/2 cup canned chopped tomatoes, drained
¼ cup preserved cooked pasta water or low sodium chicken broth
½ cup heavy whipping cream
½ cup cheddar shredded
Kosher salt and pepper to taste
In a large sauté pan, on medium high heat, add oil and chopped onion (not red onion yet) and garlic. Cook until the onion begins soften. Add chicken breast to the pan, then sprinkle Cajun spice all over the chicken. Continue stirring chicken over medium high heat until all sides are cooked. Then add slices of sausages, red onion and peppers, cook for another 3 minutes, stirring often. After that, add cooked pasta, preserved pasta water and cook for a further 2 or 3 minutes or until most of the water evaporated.
Add tomato sauce and chopped tomatoes, stir and cook about 2 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium, stir in the heavy cream to coat everything completely then turn off the heat. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if necessary. Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese on top. Serve immediately.
