Cavatappi, smoked sausage, bacon, spinach, and roasted garlic Alfredo come together in this easy, filling pasta dinner with some cajun spices. It’s a weeknight favorite, and you can double the batch to feed a crowd or to stretch for several meals.
Around Our Table
This is an easy, hearty meal for busy nights. We often double the recipe so there’s plenty to share. Add grilled chicken if you’d like extra protein.
Ingredients
- 1 lb cavatappi pasta
- Olive oil, for sautéing
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 2 smoked sausage links, sliced
- ¼ cup bacon bits or chopped bacon
- 2–3 cups fresh spinach, chopped
- 1 jar (22 oz) roasted garlic Alfredo sauce A splash of water, to rinse the sauce from the jar
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp turmeric
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp black pepper
- **Grilled chicken, optional
Instructions
- Cook the cavatappi according to the package directions. Drain and set aside.
- While the pasta cooks, heat a little olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Sauté the onion until softened.
- Add the sliced sausage and bacon. Cook for a few minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Pour in the Alfredo sauce. Add a splash of water to the jar, swirl to loosen the remaining sauce, and pour it into the pan.
- Stir, scraping the bottom of the pan to loosen the browned bits.
- Add the garlic powder, turmeric, smoked paprika, cayenne, and black pepper. Stir to combine.
- Stir in the spinach and cook until wilted.
- Remove the sauce from the heat and stir in the cooked pasta. Serve warm
Make It Work for Your Table
More protein: Serve with grilled chicken for an extra protein boost.
Make it lighter: Use turkey smoked sausage and reduced-fat Alfredo sauce.
Feeding the family: Double the ingredients to make a large batch for family dinners or leftovers.
