This 1 Pot Vegan Creamy Cajun Pasta is just 8 easy ingredients and ready in 30 minutes! It’s so easy to make, so full of flavor and completely oil-free! Can be made gluten-free by using pasta of your choice.
1 POT VEGAN CREAMY CAJUN PASTA
I love Cajun food and being married to a native from Louisiana, Cajun food is something we’ve eaten our entire marriage. So, he is picky and absolutely loved this! I used my homemade Cajun seasoning because it’s the bomb and has no salt added to the blend. The flavor is incredible here.
This recipe does not require any cashews like most vegan creamy sauces and has so much flavor. Bonus that it is made in 1 pot and ready in 30 minutes.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED
- Cajun seasoning: I used my homemade blend because it’s salt-free and it’s delicious. You can use store-bought if you like, but make sure to buy a salt-free blend and I’ve only tested this with my own blend. Takes just 3 minutes to prepare the blend.
- Bell peppers
- Low-sodium soy sauce: Use a gluten-free tamari if needed.
- Almond milk: Use unsweetened plain. I used the Simple Truth brand from Kroger. If allergic to almond milk, use another milk you love, like oat milk or soy. I used almond milk because it’s not too thick and not too runny and the almond flavor really goes great with Cajun spices, so it’s what I recommend and only tested with. It thickens up beautifully, but still creamy and saucy.
- Roasted creamy almond butter: Use sunbutter if allergic.
- Sweet corn
- Penne pasta: Use gluten-free if needed.
- Tomato sauce
HOW TO MAKE VEGAN CAJUN PASTA
Step 1: First, make the Cajun seasoning so it’s ready to go.
Step 2: Cook the bell pepper in 1/4 cup water and a pinch of salt over medium heat for 5 minutes in a large deep pan.
Step 3: While the bell peppers are cooking, combine the almond milk, remaining 3/4 cup water, almond butter, soy sauce, liquid smoke (if using) and salt in a bowl and whisk until really smooth. Make sure the almond butter is mixed thoroughly and not chunky.
Step 4: Stir in the Cajun seasoning into the pan for about 30 seconds to toast them and release their aroma.
Step 5: Add the almond milk mixture, corn and the pasta to the pan and stir very well. Raise the heat and bring to a boil. Once boiling, cover and lower the heat to low so that a gentle simmer is going. Cook, covered for 10 minutes or until pasta is al dente. 10 minutes was perfect for me. Stir once during the cooking process.
Step 6: The sauce should have thickened beautifully, coating all the sauce perfectly. It will be creamy, but not a lot of sauce in the pan. Remove from the heat and stir in the tomato sauce thoroughly until well mixed. Taste and add more salt if needed. This will vary due to if your tomato sauce is salted or not. It should have a nice kick of heat, but not overly spicy. If you want it spicier, sprinkle some extra Cajun seasoning on the pasta. Serve immediately.
MORE VEGAN PASTA DISHES
- Best Vegan Garlic Alfredo
- Vegan Walnut Basil Pasta
- 20 Minute Vegan Alfredo
- Vegan Pimento Cream Sauce
- Creamy Chili Sauce with Pasta
- Easy Vegan Meatballs and Spaghetti
- Vegan Lemon Florentine Pasta
*This post contains affiliate links. See my full disclosure policy here.
If you make this recipe, be sure to leave feedback below and share your pic on Instagram or Facebook and tag me @thevegan8 #thevegan8!
1 Pot Vegan Creamy Cajun Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 packed cup (160g) diced bell pepper (use any colors you like, I used a tricolor blend prechopped from the store)
- 1 cup (240g) water, separated
- 2 1/2 teaspoons my homemade Cajun seasoning (you can use store-bought seasoning if you like, but make sure it's salt-free. I've only tested this with my blend)
- 1 1/2 cups (360g) unsweetened plain almond milk (if allergic, use another milk you love, like oat milk or soy. Note: I used almond milk because it's not too thick and not too runny and the almond flavor really goes great with Cajun spices, so it's what I recommend and only tested with)
- 1 tablespoon (16g) roasted creamy almond butter (use sunbutter if allergic)
- 1 tablespoon (15g) low-sodium soy sauce (use a gluten-free tamari if needed or coconut aminos for soy-free)
- 1 teaspoon (5g) liquid smoke
- 1/4-1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt (I used 1/2 tsp)
- 1/2 cup frozen sweet corn
- 8 oz uncooked penne pasta (use gluten-free if needed)
- 1/4 cup (60g) tomato sauce puree
- Optional: fresh green onions & parsley for garnish
- I use this scale.
NOTE
- If you are extremely sensitive to spicy or don't like a kick, reduce to 2 teaspoons Cajun spice and that makes it very mild. Doesn't taste as Cajun of course since Cajun food is spicy, but if serving to kids that are sensitive, only use the 2 teaspoons. It's still flavorful.
Instructions
- First, make the Cajun seasoning so it's ready to go.
- Add the bell pepper and ONLY 1/4 cup of the water and a pinch of salt to a large deep pan over medium heat and cook for 5 minutes.
- While the bell peppers are cooking, in a large bowl, combine the almond milk, remaining 3/4 cup water, almond butter, soy sauce, liquid smoke (if using) and salt and whisk until really smooth. Make sure the almond butter is mixed thoroughly and not chunky.
- Stir the Cajun seasoning into the pan of bell peppers for about 30 seconds to toast them and release their aroma.
- Add the almond milk mixture, corn and the pasta to the pan and stir very well. It will be very runny, but will thicken up beautifully, don't worry. Raise the heat and bring to a boil. Once boiling, cover and lower the heat to low so that a gentle simmer is going. Cook covered for 10 minutes or until pasta is al dente. 10 minutes was perfect for me. Stir once during the cooking process.
- The sauce should have thickened beautifully and be creamy with just enough sauce coating all the pasta well. Remove from the heat.
- Stir in the tomato sauce thoroughly until well mixed. Taste and add more salt if needed. If using coconut aminos (which is less salty than soy sauce), you may need another pinch. This will vary also due to if your tomato sauce is salted or not. It should have a nice kick of heat, but not overly spicy. If you want it spicier, sprinkle some extra Cajun seasoning on the pasta. If you want it more saucy, add a bit more water and extra seasoning if needed. Serve immediately and garnish with fresh green onions and parsley, if desired.
Notes
- I used a salt-free tomato sauce, so the sodium is not accurate in the nutrition stats (I use an online calculator at caloriecount.com). Depending on the tomato sauce or brands used, it will vary.
- Follow the same directions as above for having all ingredients ready and premeasured, as this recipe goes super quick. NOTE: Using the full 2 1/2 teaspoons of Cajun spice I loved, it was quite spicy, but my family complained it was too spicy, lol. I also made it with just 2 teaspoons and they were fine with that, so it's up to you. 2 teaspoons wasn't enough for me, so maybe do 2 1/4 teaspoons? You can always add more after it cooks if you want it spicier.
- Whisk the almond milk, ONLY 1/2 cup water (this is less than the 3/4 cup used in the stovetop version), almond butter, soy sauce, tomato sauce, 1/2 teaspoon salt, liquid smoke (if using) until very smooth. You don't want chunks of almond butter. Set aside.
- Add the bell pepper and 1/4 cup water and a pinch of salt to the pot and saute for 5 minutes on "normal" saute mode, stirring a couple of times during. Add the cajun spices and stir around for about 30 seconds to briefly cook and release their aroma. If the pot is too dry, add a tiny splash of water.
- Turn off the saute by hitting cancel. Add the almond milk mixture, the pasta and corn and stir very well.
- Select the "Manual/Pressure Cook" button on the high pressure setting and set the timer for 5 minutes. It will take 10 minutes to come to pressure before the 5 minutes begins. Once it beeps after the 5 minutes is done, let it sit just 5 more minutes and do a quick release to release the remaining pressure using an oven mitt to protect your hand. The float valve will drop once all the pressure is released. Lift the lid carefully and stir around the pasta until mixed. Add to bowl and add any more Cajun spice if desired. Garnish with fresh parsley and green onions (optional). Serve right away.
Can I double the recipe in the instant pot? I usually double it when i make it stovetop. Would that change the cook time?
I’ve not tried doubling it personally, but I would think it would be okay!
it was great. Question though – where is the quoted 11.3 grams of protein coming from???
Hi Paul! From the wheat pasta, it is relatively high in protein!
This was fantastic–had never made Cajun before. I didn’t want corn so I sautéed a half-cup of white onions with the red peppers and then while it was all cooking in the Instant Pot, sautéed shitake mushrooms with some of the Cajun seasoning and a little salt and then mixed those in at the end. I used your Cajun seasoning and made my own almond butter earlier and used that, so everything was just so and it turned out excellent. Used the full 2 1/2 teaspoons of the seasoning and put more on in the end–have graduated to Trinidad Scorpion peppers so this had nice, even heat. Looking forward to continuing to try more of your stuff!
Steve you are a sweetheart! Thank you for you lovely reviews lately!! That sounds amazing!
This recipe is great! I have made several times. Your post about it on IG this past weekend reminded me I haven’t made it in a while. Yum!
This was so tasty! I used oat milk instead of almond, and tahini instead of almond butter as it’s what I had, and it was still so flavourful. Love the homemade Cajun spice. Will make again!
This recipe is one of my favorites! It’s so versatile with different veggies and pastas (I’ve used chickpea and lentil). So flavorful but so easy to make!!
I’ve never had cajun food before and found the flavors interesting but didn’t really love it in the pasta. I did use yellow lentil pasta, used flax milk instead of almond and forgot to add the corn but added greens at the end and it was still good. Maybe almond milk would’ve enhanced the flavor more. Thank you for the recipe.
Hi there! Yes, using flax milk and lentil pasta will really change the flavor of the recipe. The corn also adds some sweetness to balance out the spices. So, I’d try making as listed next time and see how it differs for you!
I really enjoyed this recipe! I needed something quick and easy to put together before heading to work and, luckily, I came across this recipe and I had all the ingredients. For something that comes together so quickly, it had a lot of flavor and was super creamy. It was probably one of the fastest meals I’ve made. I will definitely be making this again.
So very happy to hear this Amanda, thank you!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ One of THEE BEST recipes I’ve ever had ! I made this for this first time today, along with your Cajun spice blend. The aroma of BBQ sauce fills the house while this cooks. The flavor is perfect. Such a creative combo of ingredients and a very nourishing meal. It goes together pretty quickly. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Woohoo that is wonderful to hear!!
This recipe is amazing! I added 2 teaspoons of the Cajun Spice Seasoning and it was the perfect spice for us. Creamy and so much great flavor. Great recipe to make on a weeknight. Quick and simple. My husband had a chicken sausage and I had a vegan sausage with this recipe.
This was delicious! I followed the recipe as written, except I substituted soy milk for almond since I had some that needed to be used up. My entire family loved it. I used less Cajun seasoning since my girls are sensitive to spice. My husband, son and I added more Cajun seasoning to our individual portions. I highly recommend this recipe.
That’s so wonderful to hear Kim and I do the exact same thing for my daughter!
This is sooooo good. I’ve made it before, but didn’t have almond butter (used sunbutter), but we did have it this time and it was amazing! Also used the pressure cooker this time and it came out perfect. We like spicy so we even added a little extra cajun seasoning. Since we’ve made it before we added a shallot to sauté with the peppers and served with steamed broccoli. Yummy! Only wishing I would’ve doubled the recipe.
This is one of the best vegan pasta dishes I have made!!! Will be making again. I blended up soaked cashews because I did not have almond butter. So good!
Yay, really happy to hear this Emily, thank you!!
I forgot to rate this in my previous comments. Five stars! I am trying roasted red peppers tonight as I did not have fresh peppers
I have made this recipe several times and the whole family loves it!! I am always looking for delicious vegan, oil free recipes. Thank you!!
I made this recipe the other day and it was DELICIOUS and super easy to make. I will definitely be making this recipe again. Thank you for such a great tasting recipe that is easy to make on a busy week night!
I make this often and always forget to come back to thank you for the 😋! It is such an easy delicious dinner! I usually add extra veggies, tonight it was sauteed onions and mushrooms and then some spinach mixed in at the very end. I use a red lentil pasta so dinner is protein-packed!
Thank you so much Iris for the lovely feedback!
This was amazing! I couldn’t taste the nut butter or milk at all. I added baby Bella mushrooms, chopped onion, and garlic with the ref bell pepper in step one. I definitely recommend!
Made this for dinner night with some red lentil-based rotini I happened to have on hand. Creamy, delicious, and very filling. Will definitely make again.
This was soooo good!!! Used chickpea spaghetti broken up and omitted the liquid smoke as I didn’t have any on hand. The seasoning blend was just perfect!!! This will be a part of my dinner rotation. Thank you 🙏
That is so amazing to hear, thank you Stephanie!