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30-Minute Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta

Close-up of a serving of creamy cajun chicken pasta with penne, rich orange sauce, and fresh parsley.
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Make this restaurant-style Cajun Chicken Pasta at home quickly. This recipe delivers bold, spicy flavor and a rich, velvety cream sauce in under 30 minutes, perfect for an easy weeknight dinner.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound penne pasta
  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning (divided)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 small yellow onion, chopped
  • 1 red bell pepper, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 cup cream cheese, cubed
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Cook the penne pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water before draining. Set the pasta aside.
  2. Toss the cut chicken pieces with 1 tablespoon of the Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper.
  3. Heat the olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned chicken and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside.
  4. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the chopped onion and bell pepper to the skillet and cook until softened, about 4 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
  5. Stir in the remaining 1 tablespoon of Cajun seasoning. Pour in the heavy cream and chicken broth. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
  6. Whisk in the Parmesan cheese and the cubed cream cheese until the sauce is smooth and the cheese has melted completely. This creates your rich, velvety sauce.
  7. Return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Add the drained pasta to the sauce. Toss everything together until the pasta is evenly coated.
  8. If the sauce seems too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water until you reach your desired consistency. Taste and adjust salt and pepper if needed.
  9. Serve immediately, garnished with fresh chopped parsley.

Notes

  • For a spicier kick, add 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper to the sauce base.
  • You can substitute shrimp for the chicken for a different flavor profile.
  • This dish is excellent made with penne, but fettuccine or rotini also work well.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://cookingbyjade.com/creamy-cajun-chicken-pasta-recipe/