Description
Creamy Cajun chicken pasta is a bold, comforting weeknight dinner featuring tender chicken, colorful bell peppers, and a spicy, creamy sauce tossed with pasta. Ready in about 30 minutes, it’s a crowd-pleaser that’s easy to customize and perfect for busy nights.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 lb), sliced into strips
- 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 12 ounces penne or fettuccine pasta
- Water for boiling, generously salted
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced
- 1 green bell pepper, sliced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
- Pinch of chili flakes (optional)
- Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
- Extra grated Parmesan cheese, for garnish
- Lemon wedges, for serving
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 10-12 minutes, or until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- While pasta cooks, toss chicken strips with Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken in a single layer and cook 4-5 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Remove chicken and set aside.
- In the same skillet, melt butter. Add chopped onion and minced garlic; sauté until softened, about 2 minutes. Add sliced red and green bell peppers and cook for another 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Pour in heavy cream and chicken broth. Stir, scraping up any browned bits. Add grated Parmesan, smoked paprika, and chili flakes. Simmer for 4-5 minutes until sauce thickens slightly.
- Add cooked pasta and chicken to the skillet. Toss everything together until well coated with sauce. Warm through for 2-3 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Top with chopped parsley, extra Parmesan, and a squeeze of fresh lemon. Serve hot.
Notes
For extra creamy sauce, use full-fat cream and freshly grated Parmesan. If sauce thickens too much, add a splash of pasta water or chicken broth. Adjust Cajun seasoning to taste for desired spice level. Gluten-free and dairy-free adaptations are easy. Leftovers keep well and flavors deepen overnight.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American, Southern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe (about 1 1/2 cups)
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 780
- Fat: 20
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 47
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 32
Keywords: Cajun chicken pasta, creamy pasta, weeknight dinner, spicy chicken pasta, easy chicken recipe, Southern pasta, comfort food, quick dinner, family meal