Cabbage and noodles is one of those super simple, no-frills comfort foods. The flavors aren’t complex or even particularly special, it’s just straight up satisfying and comforting. A lot of people add a little smoked sausage to their cabbage and noodles to round out the meal, which got me thinking, “a handful of Cajun spices would probably be awesome in there too!” So if you want to take your cabbage and noodles up a level, try these Cajun Cabbage and Noodles. They’re still simple and satisfying, just with a little Cajun kick. ;)

Cajun Cabbage and Noodles

Are Cajun Cabbage and Noodles Spicy?

Yes. Absolutely yes. If you must, you can reduce the heat by reducing or eliminating the cayenne pepper in the spice mix, but I wouldn’t suggest skipping the sprinkle of hot sauce on top at the end. That little sprinkle of vinegar flavor really makes everything pop. 

What Kind of Hot Sauce Should I Use?

If you want to stick with the Cajun/Louisiana theme, I suggest Louisiana Brand hot sauce, Cajun Chef hot sauce, Crystal hot sauce, Slap Ya Mama hot sauce, or perhaps Zatarain’s hot sauce. Of course, Louisiana hot sauces aren’t always available outside of the region, so a simple Tabasco or your favorite hot sauce will still work if that’s what is available.

What Kind of Smoked Sausage is Best?

Andouille will give you the most Cajun flavor, but again, that isn’t always widely available. Any sausage with a good smoky flavor will do the trick! I’m going to go ahead and openly admit that I bought the Kroger brand smoked sausage for this because it was on sale for $2.50. Do what you gotta do. 

Can I Use Store Bought Cajun Seasoning?

Yes, although many store bought Cajun seasoning blends contain a lot of salt, so you do risk over salting your dish. Instead, I made a hlaf batch of my own Cajun Seasoning Blend for this recipe. 

Step by Step Photos

First, make the Cajun seasoning mix. Combine 1 tsp smoked paprika, 1/2 tsp dried oregano, 1/2 tsp dried thyme, 1/4 tsp garlic powder, 1/4 tsp onion powder, 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper, 1/4 tsp salt, and some freshly cracked black pepper. Set the spice mix aside. 

Add 1 Tbsp cooking oil to a large pot and heat over medium. Slice 13 oz. smoked sausage, then add it to the pot. Stir and cook the sausage until it is well browned.

Begin heating a separate large pot of water for the noodles. Once the water is boiling, add 8 oz. wide egg noodles and continue to boil until tender. Drain the noodles in a colander. Also shred about 6 cups of cabbage (this was half of a 2.5 lb. head of cabbage). If you’re still building your knife skills or think you may need extra time for this step, you can do this before you begin the recipe instead of as your food cooks.

Once the sausage is browned, add the shredded cabbage, 1/4 cup water, and the Cajun spice mix to the pot. Stir everything to combine, then place a lid on top.

Continue to cook the cabbage with the lid on, stirring occasionally, until the cabbage has wilted (about 5-7 minutes). 

Add the cooked and drained noodles to the pot along with 2 Tbsp (or more) butter. Stir until everything is combined and coated in melted butter. #butterlove

Finally, make sure to give everything a taste and add a little extra salt if needed. Sprinkle green onions over top and make sure to add a splash of hot sauce to each bowl before serving!

Spicy!! 🙌

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