Creamy Cajun Sausage Ravioli (Printable Recipe)
Spicy sausage and peppers in creamy Parmesan sauce with cheese ravioli. Bold Louisiana-Italian fusion flavors.
# Ingredients You'll Need:
→ Main Ingredients
01 -
1 lb spicy Italian sausage
02 -
1 tablespoon olive oil
03 -
1/2 red bell pepper, diced
04 -
1/2 green bell pepper, diced
05 -
1/2 large red onion, diced
06 -
6-7 garlic cloves, minced
07 -
25 oz bag frozen cheese ravioli
→ Seasonings
08 -
1 tablespoon garlic seasoning blend
09 -
1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
10 -
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
→ Creamy Sauce
11 -
1/4 cup beef or chicken broth
12 -
1 cup heavy cream
13 -
3/4 to 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
14 -
1/4 cup reserved pasta water
# Steps to Follow:
01 -
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat until it shimmers slightly. Add the spicy Italian sausage, breaking it up with a wooden spoon as it browns. Add diced red and green bell peppers along with diced red onion, cooking together while stirring occasionally for 5-7 minutes until vegetables soften and sausage develops golden-brown color throughout.
02 -
Add minced garlic to the sausage and vegetable mixture, stirring constantly for 30 seconds until fragrant but not browned. Sprinkle garlic seasoning blend, Cajun seasoning, and red pepper flakes over everything, stirring to distribute spices evenly. Continue cooking for 2-3 minutes, allowing seasonings to bloom and develop full flavor potential.
03 -
Pour beef or chicken broth into the skillet, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Add heavy cream and bring mixture to a gentle simmer. Gradually whisk in freshly grated Parmesan cheese, stirring constantly until it melts completely and creates a smooth, creamy sauce that coats the back of a spoon.
04 -
Cook frozen cheese ravioli according to package directions in a large pot of well-salted boiling water. Just before draining, reserve exactly 1/4 cup of the starchy pasta cooking water. Drain ravioli gently to avoid breaking the delicate pasta pockets.
05 -
Add cooked ravioli to the skillet with cream sauce, along with reserved pasta water. Toss everything together very gently to avoid breaking ravioli while ensuring each piece gets completely coated with the rich, flavorful sauce. Reduce heat to low and simmer together for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sauce thickens to perfect consistency.
06 -
Taste the finished dish and adjust seasoning as needed, adding more Cajun seasoning for heat, salt for overall flavor, or additional Parmesan for extra richness. Sauce should be creamy enough to coat ravioli generously but not so thick it becomes gloppy. Serve immediately while hot.
# Extra Tips:
01 -
Use quality extra virgin olive oil for sautéing vegetables and building aromatic flavor layers
02 -
Never substitute garlic powder for fresh garlic cloves in this dish for best authentic flavor results
03 -
Freshly grated Parmesan melts more smoothly than pre-grated varieties and provides superior flavor
04 -
Keep heat at medium or lower when adding cream, and stir constantly to prevent sauce from breaking
05 -
Reserved pasta water helps bind the sauce to ravioli and creates perfect creamy consistency