Description
Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta is a quick and satisfying dish that brings the flavors of New Orleans to your kitchen. Tender chicken and penne pasta are enveloped in a rich, velvety sauce spiced with Cajun seasoning, making it perfect for weeknight dinners or special occasions. Ready in just 30 minutes, this pasta dish will have everyone reaching for seconds!
Ingredients
Scale
- 3–4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 lb)
- 8 oz penne pasta
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp Cajun spice blend
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Boil salted water in a large pot, add penne pasta, and cook until al dente (about 10 minutes). Reserve ½ cup of pasta water before draining.
- Sauté the Chicken: In a skillet over medium-high heat, heat olive oil. Season chicken with salt, pepper, and Cajun spices. Cook for about 6 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Remove and let rest before slicing.
- Create the Sauce: In the same skillet, sauté minced garlic until fragrant (about 1 minute). Add chicken broth and scrape up any bits from the pan.
- Add Cream: Lower heat and stir in heavy cream with additional Cajun seasoning if desired. Simmer until sauce thickens slightly.
- Combine: Add sliced chicken and drained pasta to the skillet, tossing to coat evenly in the sauce. If too thick, add reserved pasta water to achieve desired consistency.
- Serve: Plate with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese and optional parsley garnish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate (approximately 300g)
- Calories: 590
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 33g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 165mg