Creamy Cajun Mushroom Pasta

A creamy mushroom sauce flavored with onion, red bell pepper, garlic, and just the right amount of spice coats spaghetti pasta in this delicious, comforting dish. Finished with shredded and grated parmesan cheese, this pasta dish is sure to be a family favorite!

📝 Ingredients

• 1 lb. dried spaghetti pasta
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1, 16-ounce package Baby Bella mushrooms (sliced)
• 1 medium yellow onion (chopped)
• 1 medium red bell pepper (rinsed, seeded, and chopped)
• 4 cloves garlic (minced)
• Salt and cracked black pepper (to taste)
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 1/2 cups half and half
• 1/4 cup shredded parmesan
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan (plus more for topping)

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1Cook spaghetti pasta until al dente in salted water according to package instructions. Drain the pasta, reserving about a cup of pasta water, and set it aside.
2. 2Melt butter in a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms, onion, and bell pepper and cook until the vegetables have softened, about 5-7 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for another minute.
3. 3Season the veggies with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, paprika, cayenne, and crushed red pepper. Add Worcestershire sauce and give everything a good stir with a wooden spoon to combine all of the ingredients.
4. 4Add half and half to the mushroom mixture and stir to combine. Reduce heat to medium and simmer the sauce until it thickens slightly, about 5-7 minutes.
5. 5Add cooked spaghetti to the pan with the sauce and add about 1/4 cup of the reserved pasta water. Toss everything with silicone tongs to combine, ensuring all of the spaghetti noodles get coated with the sauce.
6. 6Simmer pasta while continuing to toss with tongs, until the sauce thickens a bit more, about 2-3 minutes. If the pasta seems a little dry, add more pasta water until a creamy consistency is reached. I ended up adding about 1/2 cup.
7. 7Add in grated and shredded parmesan, season with more salt and pepper to taste, and give the pasta one final toss. Serve pasta immediately, topping each serving with more grated parmesan. Enjoy!