This Cajun Chicken Pasta recipe will give you restaurant-quality (I'm looking at you, Chili's!) pasta at home that tastes better than any pasta dish you've ever had! But that's not all; it's also one of the easiest recipes ever but is a definite crowd-pleaser every time!
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Cajun Chicken Pasta is a delicious pasta dish that features chicken pieces seasoned with a delicious cajun seasoning and then tossed in a homemade creamy sauce that enhances the cajun flavor to give you a mouthwatering dish!
Most other recipes add too much cream or parmesan cheese, which takes away from the actual 'cajun' flavor this chicken pasta is known for. My recipe balances it all to give you a pasta recipe that's comforting, delicious, easy to make, and the perfect mix of ingredients for the perfect Cajun Chicken Pasta at home.
🥘 INGREDIENTS YOU'LL NEED
This recipe is quick and easy to make, thanks to its pantry-staple ingredients and easy method.
You can scroll down to the recipe card for further details and instructions.
Pasta: First of all, you'll need some good-quality pasta. Cajun Chicken Pasta is usually made with penne or other short pasta, which I've used here. But you can use whichever one you have at hand.
Chicken: Next, we need some chicken to get the chicken aspect of our delicious pasta dish. Although I've used chicken cubes here, you can cook whole chicken breast instead, or opt for chicken thighs.
Cajun seasoning: This magic ingredient adds a delicious Cajun flavor to our pasta. It's a delicious spice blend featuring lots of paprika, cayenne, garlic powder, pepper, and oregano.
Cream: For the characteristic creamy sauce consistency, we'll use heavy cream in this recipe. I've made sure to add only as much as we need for that beautiful creaminess but not to overdo it.
Parmesan cheese: Another ingredient that's added too much in other recipes is parmesan cheese, and my recipe balances it all so that you can enjoy the parmesan without having it overpower the rest of the ingredients.
🔪 HOW TO MAKE
This recipe will give you the classic Chili's Cajun Chicken Pasta flavor but even better at home in just a few simple steps.
The full instructions are in the recipe card below, but let's look at the main steps.
Step 1:
Cook the pasta according to package instructions till it's al dente. Make sure to not overcook your pasta since it'll continue cooking with the sauce. Always reserve some pasta water in case you need to adjust your sauce's consistency in the end. Drain the water and set the cooked pasta aside for now.
Step 2:
In a large skillet or pan, cook the chicken in olive oil and butter, along with the chicken spices mentioned in the recipe card. Cook the chicken until you can see brown patches on both sides. Set it aside for now.
Step 3:
In a large deep pan, saute onion in olive oil and butter till it turns translucent, then add garlic for a few seconds. Add bell peppers and cook it for a minute, then add the rest of the spices.
Step 4:
Pour chicken broth into the pan and bring it to a boil. Add heavy cream and parmesan cheese and stir it for a minute.
Step 5:
Add the cooked chicken and pasta to the pan and stir for a while. Adjust for consistency with reserved pasta water. Your delicious Cajun Chicken Pasta is ready to be served.
💭 COOKING TIPS
- Instead of penne, you can use your preferred pasta type.
- It’s best to serve this dish immediately since the sauce thickens.
- Although I have used chicken cubes, you can cook whole chicken breast. Or use thighs instead.
- Yellow or green bell pepper will give the same flavor, so use what’s available.
- Do not overcook the pasta because it will continue cooking in the sauce.
- I didn’t add salt to the sauce since there was enough salt in the chicken stock and parmesan cheese. If you feel your pasta needs more seasoning, add some seasonings and adjust.
📖 DELICIOUS VARIATIONS
This tasty pasta dish is perfect as is, but if you're looking to customize it according to your preferences, here are a few ideas you can try:
Spicier: You can make your pasta dish spicier by adding a little cayenne pepper to the pasta sauce.
Veggies: Add whichever veggies you love best. Mushrooms and/or broccoli work well with the dishes' flavors, as does some chopped, fresh tomatoes on top before serving. You can also garnish your pasta with some fresh parsley.
Meat: Instead of chicken, you can use other protein you love best. Shrimp, tofu, and even sausages go well in this dish.
💬 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Cajun chicken pasta is made of a delicious combination of chicken cooked in cajun spices, along with penne pasta and a creamy cajun sauce that's made using cajun seasonings, cream, parmesan cheese, and other aromatics such as garlic and onion for the tastiest pasta dish you've ever had!
Yes! It tastes similar to the one you might have had at Chili's, but it tastes even better! The best part about making it yourself is that you can adjust the recipe and flavors according to your preference. And it's cheaper too!
🍲 MORE PASTA RECIPES YOU'LL LOVE
🌡️ STORING AND REHEATING
Fridge: You can store any leftovers you may have in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Freezer: The consistency of the sauce will change quite a bit if frozen, so I don't recommend it.
Reheat: To reheat, warm it on the stove in a pan and adjust it with a little bit of water and cream if required for the right consistency.
📖 Recipe
Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta
Ingredients
FOR COOKING THE PASTA
- 2 ½ cup uncooked Penne pasta
- Enough water to cover the pasta by three inches
- ¾ tablespoon salt
FOR COOKING THE CHICKEN
- 400 grams chicken breast cut into cubes
- 1 teaspoon cajun spice
- ½ teaspoon black pepper powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
FOR MAKING THE CAJUN CHICKEN
- 1 onion chopped
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 2 teaspoon cajun seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 teaspoon tomato paste
- 2 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 1 tablespoon parmesan cheese grated
- ½ red bell pepper cut in small cubes
Instructions
MAKING THE PASTA
- In a large pot, add enough water to cook the pasta and add the salt. When the water comes to a boil add the pasta and cook as instructed on the box. It took me 11 minutes to cook my Penne pasta.
- Drain the pasta and keep it aside.
MAKING THE CHICKEN
- In a large pan, add the olive oil and butter, when the butter melts add the chicken and then season with salt, black pepper, and cajun seasoning.
- Cook the chicken until you see brown patches on both sides. Remove from pan and keep aside. Discard excess oil from frying the chicken.
MAKING THE CAJUN CHCIKEN
- In a large deep pan, add the olive oil and butter. When the butter melts add the onion and fry until translucent, then add the garlic and sauté for a few seconds.
- Add the bell pepper and fry for a minute on medium low heat, then add the spices and sauté for a few seconds.
- Pour the chicken stock and let it come to a boil.
- Add the heavy cream and mix then add the parmesan cheese and stir on medium low heat for a minute.
- To the previous sauce, add the cooked chicken and the cooked penne pasta and stir for a minute.
- Serve hot.
Video
Notes
- Instead of Penne, you can use your preferred pasta type.
- It’s best to serve this dish immediately since the sauce thickens.
- Although I have used chicken cubes, you can cook whole chicken breast. Or use thighs instead.
- Yellow or green bell pepper will give the same flavor, so use what’s available.
- Do not overcook the pasta because it will continue cooking in the sauce.
- I didn’t add salt to the sauce since there was enough salt in the chicken stock and parmesan cheese.
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