This Dairy Free Instant Pot Cajun Pasta is a simple gluten free meal that comes together in less than 20 minutes from start to finish! It is incredibly creamy and decadent. The perfect healthier comfort food!
Tonight I had no plan for dinner, and decided to scour the fridge and pantry. I found a sugar-free kielbasa and a box of Jovial Foods gluten free penne, and then this idea came to me. I bet I could make an incredible Creamy Cajun Pasta using a cashew cream sauce. And…in the Instant Pot to make for the easiest meal ever! I’ve been experimenting with cooking pasta in the Instant Pot lately, and it couldn’t be easier.
How do you cook pasta in the Instant Pot?
As mentioned, I used Jovial Foods gluten free penne for this recipe. The cooking time on the box says 12 minutes. The rule of thumb when it comes to cooking any pasta in the Instant Pot is to cut the time in half, and minus two minutes. 12 minutes / 2 = 6 mins minus 2 mins = 4 mins of cooking time. This resulted in PERFECT, al dente penne. You can use any type of pasta you want for this, but please be aware I haven’t tested it with chickpea pasta or any other type!
How do you make this on this stove?
To make this one-pot meal on the stove, simply heat the oil in a large pot or skillet. Add in the sausage and saute for 2-3 minutes. Add in the spices, pasta, broth, and an additional 1/2 cup of water. Cook according to pasta package directions for timing, stirring occasionally. Stir in the cashew cream at the end.
What Ingredients do I need to make this Dairy Free Instant Pot Cajun Pasta?
The ingredient list may look long, but it’s only because of the spices! This combo of spices makes an incredible homemade Creole seasoning. I use it in my Shrimp and Grits and Instant Pot Jambalaya Soup, as well!
- Any cajun or smoked sausage will work with this. I used Pederson’s Farms kielbasa which I found at Sprouts.
- Pasta – I love Jovial Foods gluten free pasta. It holds up well and tastes like the real thing! I would suggest using smaller cuts of pasta in the Instant Pot vs spaghetti.
- Spices: garlic powder, onion powder, salt, oregano, thyme, paprika, and cayenne pepper. You can omit the cayenne completely if you don’t like spice!
- Cashews – It’s important to use raw, unsalted cashews. They do not need to be soaked if you have a high-powered blender (like a Vitamix!)
*Optional add-ins: I think this would be amazing with some roasted onions and peppers. I would not suggest adding them to the Instant Pot, as I feel like they would get mushy.
If you make this Dairy Free Instant Pot Cajun Pasta, be sure to tag me on Instagram @maryswholelife so I can see your creations!
This is the perfect comfort food during this crazy quarantine. I hope you love it!!
-Mary
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Dairy Free Instant Pot Cajun Pasta
Equipment
- pressure cooker
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 14 oz. package Smoked Sausage or Kielbasa cut into 1/4 inch rounds
- 1 12 oz box Jovial Foods Gluten Free Penne Pasta or pasta of choice
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp oregano
- 1/2 tsp thyme
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper omit for less heat
Cashew Cream
- 1 cup raw unsalted cashews soaked in boiling water for 30 mins. No need to soak if you have a high-powered blender!
- 1/2 cup water
Instructions
- Press the "saute" button on the Instant Pot and add the oil. After it heats up, add in the sausage rounds. Saute them for 3-4 minutes. Add in the pasta, the broth, and the spices. Give everything a good stir. The broth should mostly cover everything.
- Lock the lid, turn the vent to "sealing", and cook on high pressure for 4 minutes.*
- While the Instant Pot comes to pressure, make the cashew cream. Add the cashews and water to a high-powered blender, and blend for 1 minute or until very creamy and smooth.
- When the Instant Pot timer goes off, manually release the steam. Open the lid and stir in the cashew cream. Taste it and adjust seasonings to your liking (add salt, a little more cayenne, etc). Serve with fresh parsley, if desired. Enjoy!
I made this tonight for dinner, it was SO yummy! This was my first time cooking with cashews. What a simple and easy to make meal. I sautéed some red peppers and green onion on the side and added shredded chicken I had on hand as my protein. Thanks for making such delicious recipies Mary!
Thank you Shannon! Those sound like amazing additions!
We made this for dinner tonight. Not only was it easy to cook but it was delicious! The cashew sauce was amazing. My GF/DF daughter was truly amazed. She said it was the best pasta dish ever. We completely enjoyed it and can’t wait to try some other recipes. Thank you so much Mary!
Thank you Margaret! I am so glad you enjoyed it!!
I made this tonight and it was so good!! My husband loved it too. So easy and so delicious. Thanks for the great recipe!!
Thanks Shari!!
This is AMAZING, thank you yet again for another delicious and healthy recipe!
I was so excited to make this in our food freedom, and it was a hit, just like I expected! It’s a creamy, decadent dish that tastes like it’s from a restaurant. Our toddler thought it was too spicy, but we loved it! I’ll probably omit the cayenne next time so she will eat more 😉
Awesome! Thank you for letting me know, Chelsea!
This recipe is amazing! I love how quick and simple it is and my family devoured it! Not one so gle complaint, even from my picky eater. You have such a talent for making easy Paleo meals that pack a huge flavor punch. This recipe will be on a permanent rotation from here on out. Thank you!
Thank you Darra 🙂
Delicious! I used chickpea pasta (3 min under pressure) and it turned out great! I also added diced red peppers for some color. Thank you for this great recipe!
Glad you loved it and it worked with chickpea pasta! Thanks Kim!
Creamy, full of flavor, & just delicious! Hard to believe there’s no dairy in it. And it’s simple to make. Thanks for another great recipe, Mary!
Thank you Cassie! So glad you enjoyed it!
Oh… my…. gosh!!!!
I was very skeptical over this recipie but since I am trying to learn how to cook foods that are gluten and dairy free I decided to give it a go.
As a mom of 4 there are a few things that I require of a recipie if I am going to make it more than once.
1. The kids have to at least tolerate it
2. The adults have to enjoy it
3. It has to be easy to cook
Well, this hit all 3 points. My 1 year old had seconds! The other kids devored it but then wanted dessert. My husband and I love it! Cashews man! Who knew? Well, you obviously. Thanks for sharing this amazing recipie.
I did omit the cayenne pepper so it wasnt too spicy for them. Other than that I followed the recipie exactly.
Thank you so much Tiffany, I am glad you all loved it!
Made this a few times now and it is out of this world. My husband (who is not gluten or dairy free) loves it and can’t even tell the cream is cashew based. This is delicious!
This is so good and so easy! Even my 9 month old loved it (sans paprika)! I added some spinach so I didn’t have to make a veggie side dish 🙂
Thanks Tessa! Glad you all enjoyed it!
I make this about every other week. It is so delicious! I add in sauteed red pepper and onions at the end, and then stir in frozen peas. So good!!
Is there a way to make this without an instapot? I’ve been debating getting one but honestly, they seem mildly terrifying. Suggestions for stovetop?
I am going to test a stove top version! You should be able to just saute the sausage, add in the pasta and broth and cook it per package directions timing-wise. Then stir in the cashew cream at the end!
Great! This is what I was thinking. I will give it try!
I followed the recipe and wound up with soup! I used Jovial fusilli and don’t understand what happened re: the liquid. I used four cups of chicken broth and it didn’t evaporate in the slightest. Did high pressure at 4 minutes and a manual release.
That’s really strange! I am making this tomorrow and I am going to use the GF fusilli to see what happens. Usually once you stir in the cashew cream and let it cook on sauté mode for a few minutes, it thickens up nicely. Sorry it didn’t work out for you!
Yum, yum, yum! So easy to throw together and so tasty! Whole family enjoyed it 🙂