Love one pot pastas? Try this Chicken and Noodles Recipe, this Easy Hamburger Helper Recipe, this One Pan Pasta Primavera, or this creamy Garlic Parmesan Orzo Pasta recipe next! Today we’ve got another easy pasta recipe to add to the books! This Cajun Chicken Pasta takes 10 minutes to prep and is ready in just over 30 minutes. It’s a complete meal the whole family will love. Bonus: it’s made in just one pot! This pasta is made with penne coated in a rich and flavorful cream sauce spiced perfectly with a sweet and spicy seasoning blend, then topped off with juicy and tender chicken. We love serving it with Garlic Bread to soak up all that sauce as well as something green, like these Roasted Green Beans or Air Fryer Broccoli! Some fresh homemade Blueberry Lemonade to wash it all down doesn’t hurt either 😉
Ingredients Needed:
Oil: used to brown the chicken and to sauté the aromatics. I use canola oil because it has a neutral flavor and high smoke point. You can use an oil of your choice. Chicken Breasts: you’ll need 2 boneless and skinless chicken breasts. Boneless, skinless chicken thighs also work great in here! Seasonings: we’re using salt, brown sugar, and Cajun seasonings to spice up the chicken, then seasoning the cream sauce with a sprinkle of salt and Italian seasoning. If you can’t find Cajun seasoning, feel free to create your own blend. Aromatics: sautéed onion and garlic creates a delicious flavor base for the sauce. Fresh is best but you can substitute for ½ teaspoon each of onion powder and garlic powder if need be. Chicken Broth: I use low sodium chicken broth so I can control the saltiness of the pasta. If you only have regular broth, be sure to taste the finished product before salting. Canned Tomatoes: use canned diced tomatoes to add to the sauce for more flavor and texture. No need to drain! Heavy Whipping Cream: creates a rich and creamy texture, and won’t curdle with the heat! Pasta: I use penne pasta, but other pasta shapes would work too. No need to cook it first. It cooks right in the sauce! If using another shape of pasta, be sure that you stick to the same weight and not the volume.
How to Make Cajun Chicken Pasta
This one-pan pasta dinner is ready in a total of 35 minutes!
Tips and Notes
It’s okay if the chicken isn’t cooked through when you remove it from the pan — it will finish cooking in the sauce. Check the temp. You’ll know that the chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165ºF. Keep a meat thermometer on hand to double check it! If the pasta is cooked but there is still a lot of liquid left, you can remove the lid and simmer longer to let excess moisture evaporate. The sauce may look thin at first, but will thicken significantly as it begins to cool. If needed, combine 1 teaspoon of cornstarch and 1 teaspoon of water. Mix that into the sauce to thicken. Use leftover chicken. If you have leftover chicken to use up in the fridge (like this Instant Pot Shredded Chicken or Crockpot Shredded Chicken), that works great too! Simply add the cajun seasoning to the pasta (omit the brown sugar and salt unless needed), and add in the cooked chicken before serving.
Cajun Chicken Pasta Variations
Add more veggies. Feel free to sauté any veggies you like along with the onion and garlic. Try spinach, broccoli, peas, diced bell pepper, asparagus, mushrooms, you name it. Make it spicier. This pasta recipe isn’t as spicy as you might think. If you like a lot of heat, add extra Cajun seasoning or cayenne pepper to the sauce. Use another pasta shape. Any pasta will work for this recipe. Try linguine, macaroni, spaghetti, bow tie pasta, etc. — just be sure you have about 300 grams. Make it cheesy. A sprinkle of parmesan cheese on top would be delicious! Make it vegetarian. Just leave out the chicken or sub in more veggies or a meatless variety — try sauteeing them with onions and adding the Cajun seasoning here. Use another meat. I love the chicken in this Cajun pasta, but you could also use sausage or shrimp!
Serving Suggestions
This Cajun Chicken Pasta is a complete meal all on its own, but you can totally serve it with any of your favorite side dishes. A few of my favorites or Roasted Green Beans, Garlic Bread, or Air Fryer Broccoli.
More Chicken Pasta Recipes You’ll Love
Instant Pot Italian Chicken Pasta
Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
Chicken Pesto Pasta
Chicken Spaghetti
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