An easy, one pot dinner, perfect for a busy weeknight; or those lazy Sundays you spend on the couch, binge-watching Netflix, in need of simple sustenance. It’s a convenient dish that you can throw together without an extra trip to the grocery store.

The creamy, cheesy, cooling sauce contrasts beautifully with the savory, Cajun kick of the spiced Kielbasa. It’s a versatile entrée that can be prepared with the addition of any vegetables you may have on hand, or none at all. This has become a go-to dinner prepared frequently in both my kitchen, and my sister’s home.

What a Long, Strange Trip It’s Been

My brother-in-law’s birthday is in May. It occurs the week before my little sister’s (his wife) birthday and mine. While planning the recipes for Sauced in the month of May, I asked my sister, Ali, for one of her spouse’s most-frequently-requested dinners: and so, this blog post for One Pot Creamy Cajun Kielbasa Pasta was born.

In addition, this recipe was actually given to me by Ali. It’s funny to think that the cute, little brown-eyed girl I used to make Kraft mac ‘n cheese and refrigerated tortellini for after school–while we watched Golden Girls reruns and did our homework (well, at least one of us did our homework, can you guess which one?)– would end up giving me recipes, tips, and tricks, later on in our lives.

But this particular blog is not about Ali (those blog posts will come later). This post is about her husband, Josh, lovingly referred to as: “JC.”

I’ve Got a Meeting with The Bob’s in a Couple of Minutes

Why would we refer to a guy with such a simple name by even simpler initials? Well, that is because my husband’s name is also Josh. This dynamic (albeit initially unrelated) duo, each came into my and Ali’s lives at essentially the same time. She and I were living together in our little duplex on a quiet road when we [separately] met “our Bob’s,” aka the Josh’s. In the essence of simplicity, they were each assigned a nickname consisting of their initials. As a former (and, ya know what? I’ll go ahead and say it: Current) lover of ‘NSYNC, the irony of the initials “JT” and “JC” were not lost on my sister, nor I.

Yeah. They Called Me at Home

Growing up as the middle child of three girls, I remember sometimes wishing for a brother. You know, someone to look out for you, stand up for you, and someone whose cute friends I could potentially date when I got older. (What can I say? I’m a planner.) When my sister, Ali, met, dated, and later married JC, I truly felt like I gained not only a brother from another mother, but a best bud. LIT’RALLY!

Matter of Trust

When it came time for my Josh (JT) and I to exchange our vows a couple of years ago, I had a lot of plans for our upcoming nuptials. But most importantly, I knew that:

1) I wanted our beloved “fur-child,” Josey Mae to be a part of the ceremony, and,

2) I needed someone special to escort her down the aisle.

Now, for context, you must know that Josey is a particularly neurotic, spoiled, and fastidious canine. Therefore, her aisle escort had to be someone that she (and I) trusted implicitly. JC was (and continues to be) on the short-list of males that Jo-Jo (and again, I) will listen to and have faith in.

I’m Being Followed By a Moonshadow

That is how JC came to be the “flower girl” (Flower man? Flower girl escort? Flower petal distribution engineer?) at my wedding. There are several amazing photos that include the crowd’s and my mom’s reactions (which I have included within this post). However, no captured image could ever do justice to the handsome, bearded man that is my brother-in-law, not only delicately dispensing flower petals down the aisle; but who would also, throughout my entire wedding night, hilariously exit multiple situations amidst a cascade of flower petals he had stashed in his pockets. He helped out so much that day. In addition to the fact that he had me consistently cracking up, he left in a wake of faux florals upon his temporary egress to do my bidding.

We’re Halfway There

JC and I bonded over our mutual love of good tunes, dogs, Big Ten football, comedic movies and TV shows, workout routines, family gossip, and garage parties. (Especially the ultimate garage party: The wedding reception that my husband and I held in our detached garage in November 2020.)

But more than anything, we bonded over our love and the unyielding desire to take care of my little sister, Ali.

She Was a Girl On a Wagon Train

It was not an easy decision for me to move away from my family in Illinois to Kentucky. It was especially hard because I felt so guilty, and at times, lost, leaving those I loved and enjoyed taking care of. That being said, I will never forget the picture that my little sister sent me, not too long after Josey and I started off on our trek down I-57 South, towards that KY state line. JC knew that Ali would be sad about my leaving, and so he surprised her with all of her favorite sweet treats, snacks, and comforting goodies. That gesture reaffirmed what I already knew: That, even though I had to go, I had left my baby sister (and the rest of my family) in very capable hands. I will always be grateful to him for that.

Treat Yo’ Self

We may have grown up a bit since our initial meeting, nearly ten years ago. However, JC and I still enjoy the occasional garage party together, with a few adult beverages and a bit of family gossip, every now and then. Writing this, I am wishing him the happiest of birthdays, this year and always. A birthday filled with all of his favorite things: Dog (and cat?) kisses (not to mention: kisses from his beautiful wife), lawncare, good music, Chevy trucks, baseball, cold beers, and perhaps even grilling some Kielbasa in preparation for this dish. Cheers to you, JC! Thank you for all that you do, buddy. You’re number one!

One Pot Creamy Cajun Kielbasa Pasta Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 package (14 oz.) of Polska Kielbasa, sliced
• 1 box of penne pasta (rigatoni, rotini, or bowtie pasta may also be used)
• 1 c. heavy cream
• 1 c. whole milk
• 1 c. dry white wine; divided into 2, 1/2 c. servings
• 1 c. shredded Parmesan cheese
• 3 Tbsp. butter
• 1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
• 1 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
• 2 Tbsp. minced garlic; divided into 2, 1 Tbsp. servings
• 2 Tbsp. white onion, finely chopped
• 1 tsp. Cajun seasoning
• 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp. black pepper
• 1/2 tsp. smoked paprika; divided into 2, 1/4 tsp. servings
• 1/2 tsp. regular paprika
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• Chopped fresh vegetables of your choosing, including, but not limited to: Sweet bell peppers, fresh spinach, zucchini, yellow squash, Portobello mushrooms, and/or broccoli. I also often include 1/2 c. of frozen peas.

Instructions:

1. Boil pasta in a large pot, according to package directions. Drain the cooked pasta in colander and set aside. Pro Tip: I often drizzle my cooked pasta with some olive oil & toss it in the colander, lightly coating the noodles. That way, the noodles don’t stick together while I prepare the rest of the dish.
2. In the same pot used to boil the noodles in, add 1 Tbsp. olive oil and heat on medium-high heat for approximately 5 minutes. Add the chopped onion and cook 2-4 minutes, until onion begins to soften. Then, add 1 Tbsp. of the minced garlic and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes, until garlic becomes fragrant.
3. Add the sliced kielbasa to the pot and stir, coating the kielbasa in the onion and garlic. Sprinkle the kielbasa with Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, black pepper, 1/4 tsp. smoked paprika, and regular paprika. Stir to coat. Continue cooking on medium high until kielbasa begins to brown.
4. Add in the fresh vegetables of your choice and mix thoroughly, ensuring that they are coated in the seasoning, garlic, and onion mixture.
5. Pour in 1/2 c. dry white wine and stir. Cook the mixture on medium-high for another 5-10 minutes, until vegetables are softened and the wine begins to evaporate.
6. Remove the sausage and vegetables from the pot with a slotted spoon and place into a large bowl; cover to keep warm. Be sure to leave some of the drippings from the meat, vegetables and spices in the pot.
7. Add butter to pot and stir over medium heat, allowing butter to melt. Whisk in the flour and continue cooking on medium/medium-low for 1-2 minutes.
8. Add in the remaining minced garlic and smoked paprika. Cook for 1-2 additional minutes, until garlic becomes fragrant.
9. Slowly whisk in the milk, heavy cream, and 1/2 c. white wine, mixing thoroughly, and bring to a boil (increasing stovetop temperature to medium/medium-high, if necessary). Let the sauce boil for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it begins to thicken. Remove from heat.
10. Stir in the shredded Parmesan cheese, ensuring that it is fully incorporated into the sauce.
11. Add the pre-cooked noodles, Kielbasa, and any vegetables back to the pot; stir to combine. Serve this dish immediately, topped with additional shredded Parmesan cheese, if desired.