Dairy Free Instant Pot Cajun Pasta (Gluten Free)
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
Ingredients
Cajun Spice Mixture
- ½ tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp oregano
- ½ tsp thyme
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper, omit for less heat
Pasta
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb shrimp, optional
- 12 oz Andouille Chicken Sausage, cut into 1/4 inch rounds, or use pork sausage.
- ½ onion, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced thin
- 1 12 oz box Jovial Foods Gluten Free Penne Pasta, or pasta of choice
- 4 cups chicken broth, increase to 4.5 cups for stovetop version
- 1 tbsp arrowroot powder
- 2 tbsp water
- ¾ cup half & half, or original Nutpods
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese
Cashew Cream (optional, instead of dairy)
- 1 cup raw unsalted cashews, soaked in boiling water for 30 mins. No need to soak if you have a high-powered blender!
- ½ cup water
Equipment
- pressure cooker
Instructions
- Combine the salt, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, oregano, thyme and cayenne in a bowl and mix to combine.
Instant Pot Instructions
- Press the "saute" button on the Instant Pot and add the oil. After it heats up, add in the shrimp. Sprinkle the shrimp with 2 tsp of the cajun seasoning. Cook for 1-2 minutes on each side until cooked through and no longer opaque. Remove the shrimp using a slotted spoon and set aside.
- Add the remaining 1 tbsp oil along with the sausage rounds, onion, and red pepper. Saute them for 3-4 minutes. Add in the pasta, the broth, and the remaining spice mixture. 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 (if using). 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. Combine the arrowroot and water to form a slurry. Turn the pot to "saute mode" and pour it in along with the shrimp. It will thicken as it bubbles.
- Stir in the cashew cream or half & half and parmesan. Taste it and adjust seasonings to your liking (add salt, a little more cayenne, etc). Serve with fresh chopped green onions, if desired. Enjoy!
Stovetop Instructions
- Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large, deep skillet over medium heat. Add the shrimp and 2 tsp of the cajun spice mixture. Cook for 1-2 minutes on each side, or until cooked through. Remove using a slotted spoon and set aside.
- Add the remaining 1 tbsp oil along with the sliced sausage, onion, and red pepper. Saute for 3-4 minutes.
- Add in the pasta, 4.5 cups chicken broth, and remaining spice mixture. Stir to combine.
- Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and cook while stirring occasionally, for 12-13 minutes or until the pasta is cooked through and a lot of the broth has reduced. Test it to make sure it's not getting overcooked!
- Combine the arrowroot powder and water to create a slurry. Add the shrimp back into the pan along with the slurry. The sauce will thicken as it bubbles.
- Remove from heat and add in the cashew cream (or half & half and parmesan, if using). Stir and top with chopped green onions. Enjoy!
78 Comments on “Dairy Free Instant Pot Cajun Pasta (Gluten Free)”
Delicious!!
This is a favorite in my house (kids and adults…woohoo!). Great recipe for a quick dinner. After making it a few times, I added frozen okra at the end. Perfect combination of flavors. Thanks for another deliciously, healthy, and easy meal!Â
This is one of my family’s all time favorite recipes! Super easy, fast to make , and a healthy choice that doesn’t feel like a compromise at all. LOVE all of Mary’s recipes but this is top 5 for sure.
This so yummy and easy!  My whole love it. Used what I had on and changed it up with shrimp, added mushrooms and spinach. My family couldn’t believe it had no dairy.Â
Loved this recipe! It reminded us of one of my husband’s favorite dishes called Rattlesnake Pasta from a local restaurant. Creamy, spicy, and it’s pasta! So good and can be easily tweaked!
This is restaurant-quality comfort food right here. So delicious. I used Banza spaghetti bc it’s what I had and it turned out perfectly. This will be on monthly rotation. Yum!!
This meal checks all the boxes…quick, easy and delicious. The whole family enjoyed it. I may experiment with add a vegetable to it next time.Â
If you wanted to make this but not dairy free. Is there a good option? Like a milk or cream cheese
I don’t like sausage and would like to do with chicken. Â Do you have any suggestions on how to do this successfully? Â I don’t use my Instant Pot very often so any guidance is appreciated!
Hi Lori! I would add in pre-cooked chicken or shredded rotisserie chicken after the pasta is cooked! Heat it on “saute” mode for a few minutes and stir it in with the pasta and sauce.
Thank you! Â Can’t wait to try.
We LOVE this recipe! We make it often, usually add peppers and onions and it’s one of our top favorite meals. It feels like it’s a decadent creamy pasta dish but minus the stomachache after. Ha! A must try!
This is a crowd pleaser! It’s got so much flavor and is so creamy! Love it for a quick meal and the leftovers are so good!Â
This is one of our favorites. I’ve made it one other time and it was delicious. This time though, I forgot to get cashews at the store, so I didn’t get to make the cream. The pasta was so flavorful just the way it was cooked, I wasn’t even upset! (Not using GF noodles). Thanks for the easy recipe!
This has become a staple meal in out dinner rotation! I was skeptical of the cashew cream but it tastes so good!
Thank you so much, Kathy!
Really yummy! I used a different gf pasta and your instructions were spot on (used the upper end of the cooking range listed on the box.)
This was delicious! So easy, so fast, so good! It will probably land on rotation in our house!Â
I made this for a neighbor that is dairy free. She questioned me repeatedly to make sure it was dairy free because it was so good! That cashew cream sauce is a hit! Thank you for all the amazing recipes!Â
So glad she enjoyed it! Thanks Kelly!
This turned out amazing!! I had never made cashew cream before and I couldn’t believe how good it was with the pasta. We added sautéed onions, mushrooms and peppers (cooked separately) at the end.  Awesome recipe, thanks Mary!!Â
Hi!! Would love to try this but I’m allergic to cashews. What would you use instead as a substitution? Thanks!!Â
Hi Brooke – for this dish I haven’t tested it with anything else, but you should be able to add in some coconut or almond milk and can thicken it up with some arrowroot powder + water mixed together. Hope this helps!
I have literally never left a recipe review til now… SO good. We love a typical creamy Cajun pasta and I was skeptical on the whole cashew cream idea (not vegan here)… DELICIOUS! I always use an andouille sausage just to hammer home the Cajun. I did use Tony’s Cajun seasoning in lieu of the list of spices and I measure with my heart but overall, sooooo good!!! Make this!Â
Thank you so much, Christina!!
This was incredibly easy to make and absolutely delicious. Â I was surprised how tasty it was! Another recipe to add to the rotation!Â