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Tender pasta and the “holy trinity” of bell peppers, celery, and onion, along with a creamy Cajun dressing, make this Cajun Pasta Salad irresistible. Pair this flavorful pasta salad with just about any meat off the grill for a memorable summer meal.
Cajun Pasta Salad
While this salad pairs nicely with grilled chicken, burgers, or hot dogs for summer barbecues, it’s also great with chicken, shrimp, steak, or salmon cooked in the air fryer for casual weeknight meals.
Last time I made this, my boys positively devoured it. The recipe is a fun twist on classic pasta salads. With an abundance of spicy flavors, nobody can accuse this pasta salad of being boring!
Cajun Flavor
Cajun flavors are characterized by a spicy, earthy seasoning blend that packs a little punch courtesy of ingredients like garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, and a variety of herbs like thyme, marjoram, and oregano. The other mainstay in Cajun cuisine is the aforementioned “holy trinity”; celery, onions, and bell peppers.
You can certainly buy good Cajun seasoning at most grocery stores in North America. However, I’m a sucker for a good homemade seasoning blend, and this Homemade Cajun Seasoning recipe is my favorite.
Cajun Dishes
It should come as no surprise that we’re big fans of Cajun dishes here. Steak bites are a weeknight mainstay of our meal-planning rotation. And these Cajun Steak Bites have just enough kick to please both my spice lovers and less adventurous eaters.
Spicy Cajun potatoes are a great side dish for grilled and roasted meats. They are also delicious chopped up with a soft egg on top or tossed into egg burritos with a bit of sausage or bacon.
Spicy sausage and tender shrimp make this Jambalaya Pasta a dinner that’ll leave everyone asking for seconds. This saucy one-pot pasta is a weeknight dinner you are going to love.
Cajun dipping sauce is the supporting star of the seafood boil show, providing a fiery, smoky punch with each bite. But I don’t stop there! I drizzle it over hot roasted potatoes, as a dip for fresh vegetables, and serve it with grilled chicken, too.
Cajun Pasta Salad
Ingredients
Salad Ingredients
- 8 ounces mini penne pasta or the small pasta of your choice
- 1 red bell pepper cut into 1-inch matchsticks, about 1 cup
- 1 green bell pepper cut into 1-inch matchsticks, about 1 cup
- 3 celery ribs very thinly sliced, about 1 cup
- ½ small red onion sliced very thin and chopped, about ½ cup
- 2 tablespoons fresh Italian parsley finely chopped
Dressing Ingredients
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 1-2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon Tony Chachere's Original Creole Seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon granulated garlic or garlic powder
- ⅛-¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper if desired, for additional heat
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to the directions on the package, adding a generous tablespoon or so of kosher salt to the water as it cooks. Drain everything into a large colander. Rinse well with cold water.
- Combine the mayonnaise, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, Creole seasoning, garlic, and cayenne in a large mixing bowl. Stir to combine. Add the cooked pasta and stir well to coat.
- Add the bell peppers, celery, and onions and stir again. Taste and adjust seasonings, if needed. Sprinkle with parsley. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Stir again just before serving.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
“The Holy Trinity is the foundational Christian belief that God is one Being who exists in three Persons.”
I understand that many chefs use this term as an allusion to a certain mixture of vegetables. I think it is inappropriate and lessens the true meaning of the “Holy Trinity”. I do enjoy your blog and frequently use it…and will continue to do so. Thank you for allowing my opinion on the use of this term. I felt it necessary to express.
While I did put it in quotes and also didn’t capitalize it, I hear you and get where you are coming from. As someone who shares your belief in The Holy Trinity as the foundational doctrine of Christianity, I appreciate that you shared your thoughts here. Thanks, Jennie.