Creamy cajun chicken pasta. This delicious dish combines penne, cajun spiced tender chicken and vibrant tomatoes in a creamy herb and cheese sauce. Easy to make and satisfying, it’s the perfect busy weeknight meal when you don’t want to compromise on taste and flavor. Add a crunchy garlic toast to complete the meal!
Fact: I make quick and easy pasta based dishes countless times every season and that includes salads as well as the creamy saucy delicacies. Honestly, not all dishes get a permanent spot on my menu, but this cajun inspired dish is one of my favorites. The cool thing about this meal is that it’s a quick and easy dish that’s loaded with tons of flavor. The best part? If you ever tire of the protein you use, you can always customize them with seafood or veggies. Trust me, it’s a permanent solution to your weeknight cooking dilemma, and everyone is going to love this dish.
Loaded with cajun spices, this recipe is all about learning how to elevate a simple pasta dish to a stunner. Your favorite protein, in this case, chicken coated with cajun seasoning is shallow fried, and served over pasta in alfredo sauce. This sauce is luscious and rich with cream and herbs. Altogether, they make a killer combination with minimal prep. In short, it’s a luxurious dish that’s also budget friendly.
Key Ingredients In Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta
- Chicken - I prefer thin chicken breast slices, but thighs are also great in this recipe.
- Cajun seasoning - This unique blend of spices in creamy alfredo sauce is what makes this dish so tasty.
- Pasta - Penne is my favorite here, but feel free to choose any type of pasta.
- Cream - The essential ingredient to impart the creamy texture.
- Parmesan - Grated Parmesan makes the sauce rich and thick.
- Herbs - Choose parsley for flavor and color.
How To Make Cajun Chicken Pasta
Cook pasta - Choose your favorite pasta and cook until al dente. You can double or triple the recipe to feed a crowd.
Marinate and fry chicken - While pasta is simmering, you can marinate chicken. All you need is cajun seasoning, salt and pepper. Coat the chicken in the seasoning. You’ll need to shallow fry this chicken in a little olive oil until cooked through. This process may take about 5-6 minutes depending on the thickness of the chicken slices.
Alfredo sauce - Start with melting butter over medium heat. Sauté garlic and stir in cream. Let this simmer for few minutes and add in grated parmesan. Now, you have the base sauce. To this, you’ll need to add pasta and chopped herbs. Give it a quick stir.
Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta
Ingredients
- 2 cups penne or your favorite pasta
- 2 boneless chicken breasts cut into halves horizontally
- 1 tablespoon cajun seasoning
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 30 g unsalted butter
- 2 garlic cloves chopped
- 300 ml heavy cream thickened cream
- ½ teaspoon lemon zest
- ¼ cup grated parmesan
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley leaves
- Salt and pepper to taste
- ¾ cup chopped Roma tomatoes
- ¼ cup chopped parsley leaves
- ¼ cup grated parmesan
- To serve:
- Garlic toast or salad or roasted vegetables
Instructions
- In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook penne until al dente according to the package instructions. Reserve about 1 cup of pasta water. Drain. Set aside.
- Place chicken in a large bowl. Add cajun seasoning. Toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper.
- Meanwhile, heat oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add chicken in a single layer. Fry for about 5-6 minutes or until cooked through. Remove from pan. Set aside.
- To the same pan, add butter.
- When butter is melted, add garlic. Sauté, stirring, for about 2 to 3 minutes or until fragrant.
- Gradually stir in cream. Add lemon zest. Simmer for about 2 to 3 minutes.
- Whisk in parmesan. Season with salt and pepper. Let the sauce simmer for 1 to 2 minutes to thicken slightly.
- Add cooked penne and 2 tablespoons chopped parsley leaves. Toss. If the sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water, one tablespoon at a time.
- To serve, divide pasta among 4 serving bowls. Top with sliced cooked chicken, tomatoes, parmesan and chopped parsley.
- Serve with your favorite side - garlic toast, salad, or roasted vegetables.
Video
Notes
- Shrimp pasta - Substitute chicken with shrimp to make cajun shrimp pasta.
- Storage - Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days.
Nutrition
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Check out more creamy pasta recipes:
- Creamy Curry Pasta - Features the unique combo of pasta and curry sauce.
- Creamy Bacon And Leek Pasta - The amazing flavors of bacon and leek with your favorite pasta.
- Creamy Tomato Pasta - Lip smacking flavors in one dish.
- Creamy Tomato Tuna Pasta - Tuna pasta in tomato based sauce.
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