Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta
This Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta is a flavor-packed dish that brings the bold spices of Cajun cuisine to your table in just 30 minutes. Tender chicken strips are coated in a smoky, slightly spicy seasoning, then tossed with al dente pasta in a luscious, velvety cream sauce.
Ingredients
- 8 oz penne pasta* cooked according to package instructions and drained
- 4 teaspoons Cajun seasoning divided
- ½ teaspoon salt divided
- ½ teaspoon pepper divided
- 1 ½ lbs boneless skinless chicken breast cut into 1″ pieces
- 3 Tablespoons salted butter divided
- ½ yellow onion diced
- 2 bell peppers sliced (any color, I like to use red)
- 1 ½ cups heavy cream
- ¾ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅓ cup fresh parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Begin cooking pasta according to package instructions.
- In a large ziploc bag, toss together 3 teaspoons Cajun seasoning, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Add chopped chicken, zip closed, and shake until chicken is coated. Set aside.
- In a large pan over medium heat, melt 2 Tablespoons of butter.
- Transfer chicken to heated pan and cook until chicken is browned and just cooked through (cook in batches if needed). Remove to a plate and set aside.
- Add remaining Tablespoon of butter to pan and cook until melted.
- Add peppers and onion and cook, stirring frequently until beginning to soften (about 3-5 minutes).
- Add heavy cream, smoked paprika, basil, garlic powder, remaining cajun seasoning and ¼ teaspoon salt and pepper. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer, cooking until sauce is thickened.
- Return cooked chicken to the pan. Add parmesan cheese and warm cooked, drained pasta and stir until cheese is melted. Serve warm, topped with fresh parsley if desired.
Nutrition
Calories: 568kcalCarbohydrates: 34gProtein: 33gFat: 33gSaturated Fat: 19gCholesterol: 174mgSodium: 488mgPotassium: 689mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 2608IUVitamin C: 44mgCalcium: 128mgIron: 2mg
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