Cajun Chicken Pasta
Made in 30 minutes, this Cajun Chicken Pasta is an easy pasta dinner you can make with simple ingredients. You'll love how creamy and hearty this pasta recipe is with a kick of heat.
Servings 4 servings
Calories 703kcal
Equipment
- Large Pot
- Large skillet
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 8 ounces penne pasta (227g)
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into bite-size cubes (about 1 pound/450g)
- 1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons cajun seasoning divided
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 bell pepper sliced
- ¾ cup diced tomatoes (150g)
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream (240mL)
- ⅓ cup grated parmesan cheese (28g)
- 4 ounces cream cheese (112g)
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- Fresh parsley chopped
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Add the salt and the pasta and cook according to the package directions. Drain the pasta, reserving 1/4 cup of pasta water.
- While the pasta cooks, toss the chicken with 1 tablespoon of cajun seasoning.
- In a large skillet, heat the butter and oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and brown on all sides. Add the bell pepper and cook until tender, about 6 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes and garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low and stir in the cream, parmesan, cream cheese, remaining 2 teaspoons of cajun seasoning, and black pepper. Cook until the cheese melts and the sauce is smooth and creamy.
- Add the pasta and toss until combined and heated through. Add some of the reserved pasta water to thin sauce, if desired. Serve immediately, garnished with more parmesan and parsley.
Video
Notes
- Cook the pasta just to al dente texture as the pasta will continue to soften when you toss it in the sauce.
- Make sure to use a large enough pot for cooking the pasta. You want there to have enough room for the noodles to move freely.
- Don’t rush cooking the pasta. The water should be a rapid boil before adding the pasta to prevent it from being soggy.
- Remember to stir the pasta to prevent the noodles from sticking together or to the bottom or sides of the pot.
- Be careful not to overcook the chicken, or it’ll be dry. As the chicken is cut into bite-sized pieces, it’s easier to overcook than a whole chicken breast.
- Feel free to add additional vegetables to the pasta, such as spinach, mushrooms, zucchini, or broccoli.
- Cut the cream cheese into small cubes and let it soften. This will help in the melting process.
Nutrition
Calories: 703kcal | Carbohydrates: 52g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 44g | Saturated Fat: 25g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 154mg | Sodium: 2132mg | Potassium: 645mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 3366IU | Vitamin C: 44mg | Calcium: 183mg | Iron: 2mg