First, let’s make the Cajun sauce. In a small bowl, combine all the ingredients for the sauce: mayonnaise, dill pickles, creole mustard, horseradish, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and Cajun seasoning. Stir until smooth, and then refrigerate it until you’re ready to use it. This sauce will enhance the flavor of the subs significantly, so don’t skip this step!
Next, let’s prepare the spice blend. In another small bowl, mix together salt, garlic powder, black pepper, and paprika. This blend adds a wonderful flavor to your chicken and sausage.
Now, heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a large cast iron pan over medium-high heat. Wait for the oil to shimmer, indicating it's hot enough. This is where the magic begins! Carefully add the andouille sausage slices to the pan and cook until they’re browned, which should take about 3 to 5 minutes. They’ll release their wonderful oils that will flavor the pan.
Once browned, remove the sausage with a slotted spoon and set it aside on a plate. You'll want to keep that flavor in the pan for the next step!
Now it’s time to cook the chicken. Sprinkle both sides of the chicken thighs with the spice blend you prepared earlier. Place the seasoned chicken into the hot pan and cook for about 4 minutes on each side, or until the chicken is cooked through and no longer pink. This gives you beautifully seared chicken!
After cooking, transfer the chicken to a cutting board and allow it to cool for about 10 minutes. This resting period keeps the juices inside the chicken, making it more tender. Once cooled, slice the chicken into strips.
In the same pan, add the remaining 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil. Then toss in the sliced green bell pepper, red bell pepper, and onion. Sauté them until they are crisp-tender, which should take about 5 minutes. You want them bright and colorful!
While the veggies are cooking, split the sub rolls in half. Place two slices of provolone cheese in each half of the rolls. Toast them in a toaster oven or a 400-degree oven until the cheese is melted and bubbly. This step adds a delightful layer of creaminess!
Now it’s time to build your subs. Start by adding the sausage, sliced chicken, sautéed peppers, and onions to the cheese-laden rolls. Ensure they’re heaped high for the best flavor experience!
Return the assembled subs to the toaster or oven for a few minutes to warm everything through. This final step allows the flavors to meld beautifully.
Finally, drizzle the homemade Cajun sauce over the filling before serving. Enjoy your mouthwatering Cajun Chicken and Andouille Subs!
