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Cajun Chicken Pasta — spicy, cajun flavored chicken combined with a creamy melty parmesan alfredo sauce. It’s a restaurant quality meal ready in under 30 minutes!
If you’re looking for a cajun pasta recipe that’s restaurant quality, look no further! This cajun chicken pasta is loaded with flavor, so easy to make.
Ingredients for Cajun Chicken Pasta
To make cajun chicken pasta, you’ll need the following ingredients:
- boneless skinless chicken breasts – cut into chunks
- penne pasta – other good options include gemelli, rotini, etc.
- cajun seasoning
- seasonings: paprika, black pepper, salt
- butter
- veggies: green onions, roasted red peppers
- heavy whipping cream
- parmesan cheese – I recommend using a microplane grater to finely grate the parmesan cheese
Other meat options: I used chicken in this recipe but it would also be just as delicious with cajun shrimp or cajun sausage. When using chicken, I like to buy chicken breast tenders and cut them into small bite sized pieces. Half of the chopping work is already done for you versus buying chicken breasts.
How to make Cajun Chicken Pasta:
Here is a brief overview of how to make cajun chicken pasta. The full detailed instructions can be found below in the recipe card.
1. Cook the chicken
2. Sautè the veggies:I like to use chopped roasted red peppers and green onions sliced thinly. I like to buy jarred roasted red peppers but you could certainly roast your own. Use whatever veggies your family likes. Mushrooms are also delicious!
3. Make the sauce: the sauce comes together so quickly consisting of butter, heavy cream, and freshly grated parmesan cheese.
Tip
Use a Microplane grater to grate parmesan cheese for this recipe. Finely grated parmesan cheese melts effortlessly into the sauce.
Chili’s serves a cajun chicken pasta garnished with fresh tomatoes which is another great option that would add freshness and depth of flavor.
I used Gemelli pasta this time around but I have made this Cajun Pasta with penne and rotini. Use whatever pasta you have on hand or whatever is your favorite.
What to serve with Cajun Pasta
I like to serve this cajun pasta with garlic bread and a salad. Here are some of my favorites:
This recipe for cajun chicken pasta is melt in your mouth delicious with a sauce you’ll want to use for everything! It’s a staple in our house, and a meal I can come back to over and over again.
Enjoy!
Cajun Chicken Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into 1-2 inch chunks
- 1 lb Penne pasta cooked according to directions on box You could also use Gemelli, Rotini or any other pasta of choice
- 3 teaspoons cajun seasoning
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2-3 green onions sliced thin
- 2-3 tablespoons chopped roasted red peppers
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 2/3 cup shredded parmesan cheese + additional for garnish
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Melt two tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium high heat.
- While butter is melting, combine cajun seasoning, paprika, salt and pepper in a ziplock bag or a bowl. Coat the chicken with the seasonings.
- Add chicken to the skillet and cook over medium high heat until the chicken is cooked through which should take around 7-8 minutes. Use a meat thermometer if needed to check for doneness. Chicken should be cooked to 165 degrees.
- Remove chicken from pan and set aside.
- To the pan add sliced green onions and roasted red peppers. Sauté veggies for 2-3 minutes.
- Reduce heat to medium low.
- Add in heavy whipping cream, salt, and pepper.
- Simmer until whipping cream reduces by about half.
- Mix the chicken back in to the cream/onion and roasted red pepper mixture.
- Once cream has reduced, add in a heaping 2/3 cup of finely grated parmesan cheese and stir until it has melted.
- Stir in the pasta and top with extra parmesan cheese and green onion for garnish.
