If you’re stuck making the same five dinners every week, this spicy Cajun street corn pasta is the easiest way to break out of the rut without adding more work to your night.
This recipe is creamy, high protein, veggie-loaded, and comes together in about 25 minutes using simple ingredients you probably already have on hand. The street corn flavors paired with Cajun seasoning give it that fun, slightly smoky flavor that feels different than your usual pasta night, but it’s still a realistic weeknight dinner for busy families.
Using chickpea or lentil pasta boosts the protein and fiber, while Greek yogurt keeps the sauce creamy without needing heavy cream.
It’s one of those meals that feels a little more exciting than basic pasta, but still works on a busy weekday when everyone is hungry and you don’t have a lot of brain power left.
Why You’ll Love This Street Corn Pasta
• High protein and balanced
• One pan and ready in about 25 minutes
• Veggie-loaded with corn, peppers, and onion
• Creamy without heavy cream
• Easy to customize with chicken, shrimp, or sausage
This is the kind of meal that helps solve the weeknight dinner rut when you want something different but still easy.
Ingredients (Serves 4)
• 8 oz chickpea or lentil pasta (or rigatoni if you prefer traditional pasta), I used Barilla Protein Plus Bow Tie!
• 1 lb blackened chicken, shrimp, or turkey sausage
• 1 tbsp ghee or avocado oil
• 1–2 ears corn (or about 1½ cups frozen fire-roasted corn)
• ½ red bell pepper, chopped
• 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning (Tony’s, Primal Palate, or homemade)
• ⅓ cup Greek yogurt or ¼ cup cream cheese
• ½ cup grated parmesan
Optional toppings
• fresh lime juice
• sliced scallions
• chopped cilantro
• jalapeño slices (optional)
How to Make Spicy Cajun Street Corn Pasta
1. Cook the pasta
Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve about ½ cup of pasta water before draining.
2. Sauté the vegetables
Heat ghee or avocado oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add corn, and bell pepper. Cook until softened and slightly charred, about 5–7 minutes.
3. Add the protein and seasoning
Add your protein of choice along with the Cajun seasoning. Cook until the protein is fully cooked and lightly golden.
4. Make the creamy sauce
Lower the heat and stir in the Greek yogurt, parmesan, and a splash of reserved pasta water. Add a squeeze of lime juice. Stir until the sauce becomes creamy.
5. Toss everything together
Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss until fully coated. Add additional pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce.
6. Add toppings
Top with scallions, jalapeño, or cilantro for extra street corn flavor.
Tips for the Best Street Corn Pasta
Use fire-roasted corn if possible.
It adds a deeper flavor and slight smokiness. Pura Vida makes a frozen one that’s great!
Reserve pasta water.
The starch helps make the sauce silky and smooth.
Customize the protein.
Blackened chicken, shrimp, or turkey sausage all work well.
How to Make It Higher Protein
For an extra protein boost:
• Use chickpea or lentil pasta, or Barilla Protein Plus!
• Add extra chicken or shrimp
• Mix in cottage cheese or additional Greek yogurt
This can easily become a 35–45g protein meal depending on your protein choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this gluten free?
Yes. Chickpea or lentil pasta works great and keeps the dish high in protein and fiber.
Can I make it dairy free?
You can swap the Greek yogurt and parmesan for a dairy-free cream alternative and nutritional yeast.
What protein works best?
Blackened chicken and shrimp both work really well, but turkey sausage also adds great flavor.
More Easy High Protein Dinner Ideas
If you’re stuck in a dinner rut, you might also like:
- 5 Dinners With 5 Ingredients Or Less
- 15 Minute Shepherds Pie Boats
- 5 High Protein Dinners For Busy Weeknights
You can also find my free 10 minute meal guide here, and be sure to follow along on instagram for more!
