Cajun Chicken with Pasta
This Cajun Chicken Pasta recipe will give you restaurant-quality (I’m looking at you, Chili’s!) pasta at home that has a little heat and is full of flavor. It’s ready within 30 minutes using simple ingredients! You can serve it with some Southern Cornbread.
Cajun Chicken with Penne Pasta is a delicious dish featuring chicken pieces seasoned with a delicious Cajun seasoning and tossed in a homemade creamy sauce!
Some recipes call for too much cream or parmesan cheese, which takes away from the actual ‘cajun’ flavor this chicken pasta dish 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
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: We need good-quality penne pasta. Cajun Chicken Pasta is usually made with penne or other short pasta. But you can use whichever one you have at hand.
Chicken: Although I’ve used chicken cubes to speed up the cooking process, you can cook whole chicken breasts instead or opt for chicken thighs. The cooking time will be slightly longer.
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: This recipe uses heavy cream for the characteristic creamy sauce consistency. I’ve made sure to add only as much as necessary for that beautiful creaminess without overdoing it.
Parmesan cheese: My recipe balances it all so that you can enjoy the parmesan without having it overpower the rest of the ingredients.
🔪 How to Make Cajun Chicken Pasta
This recipe will give you the classic Chili’s Cajun Chicken Pasta flavor but even better in just a few simple steps.
Step 1:
Cook the penne pasta according to package instructions till it’s al dente. Make sure not to 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 the onion in olive oil and butter until it turns translucent. Then add the garlic. Add the bell peppers and cook 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 penne pasta to the pan and stir. Adjust the consistency with the reserved pasta water. Your delicious Cajun Chicken Pasta is ready to be served.
💭 Expert 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 the chicken stock and parmesan cheese already contained enough salt. If your pasta needs more seasoning, add some and adjust.
📖 Variations
This cajun pasta recipe 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 cajun pasta 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. You can garnish your pasta with some fresh parsley.
Meat: Instead of chicken, you can use other proteins you love best. Shrimp, tofu, and even sausages will work.
💬 Frequently Asked Questions
Cajun chicken pasta is a delicious combination of chicken cooked in Cajun spices, penne pasta, and a creamy cajun sauce made using Cajun seasonings, cream, parmesan cheese, and other aromatics such as garlic and onion.
Yes! It tastes similar to the one you might have had at Chili’s, but better! The best part about making it yourself is adjusting the recipe and flavors according to your preference. And it’s cheaper!
🍲 More Pasta Recipes You Should Try
🌡️ Storing
Fridge: You can store any leftovers 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 the pasta on the stove in a pan and adjust the consistency with a little bit of water and cream, if necessary.
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⭐ Please Rate and Review
If you have tried this Cajun Chicken Pasta recipe and liked it, please give it a 5-star rating and leave a comment below with your experience!
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 THE SAUCE
- 1 medium 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 into 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 SAUCE
- In a large deep pan, add the olive oil and butter. When the butter melts add the onion and saute 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.