Description
A rich and flavorful Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta featuring tender chicken breast, colorful bell peppers, and a luscious Cajun-spiced cream sauce tossed with perfectly cooked penne pasta. This recipe brings a comforting and spicy Southern-inspired meal to your dinner table in just 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein and Seasoning
- 1 ½ lbs boneless skinless chicken breast cut into 1″ pieces
- 4 teaspoons Cajun seasoning divided
- ½ teaspoon salt divided
- ½ teaspoon pepper divided
Pasta
- 8 oz penne pasta cooked according to package instructions and drained
Vegetables
- ½ yellow onion diced
- 2 bell peppers sliced (any color, red preferred)
Sauce
- 3 Tablespoons salted butter divided
- 1 ½ cups heavy cream
- ¾ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅓ cup fresh parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Begin by cooking the penne pasta according to the package instructions. Once cooked, drain and set aside.
- Season Chicken: In a large ziplock bag, combine 3 teaspoons of Cajun seasoning, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Add the chicken pieces, close the bag, and shake until the chicken is evenly coated. Set aside.
- Cook Chicken: Heat 2 tablespoons of butter in a large pan over medium heat. Add the seasoned chicken and cook until browned and just cooked through, stirring or flipping as needed. Remove chicken from the pan and set aside.
- Sauté Vegetables: Add the remaining tablespoon of butter to the same pan and melt it. Add the diced onion and sliced bell peppers. Cook, stirring frequently, until the vegetables begin to soften, approximately 5 minutes.
- Make Sauce: Pour in the heavy cream, then add smoked paprika, dried basil, garlic powder, the remaining 1 teaspoon of Cajun seasoning, and ¼ teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer and cook until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Combine and Serve: Return the cooked chicken to the sauce in the pan. Add the fresh parmesan cheese and the drained pasta. Stir well until the cheese melts and everything is heated through. Serve warm, optionally garnished with fresh parsley.
Notes
- While penne pasta works best, feel free to substitute linguine or your favorite pasta shape.
- For an authentic Cajun flavor, try using the “Slap ya Mama” brand Cajun seasoning.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheated pasta sauce may be less creamy.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 550 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg
