Cajun Chicken Pasta
Cajun Chicken Pasta Recipe Ingredients and Possible Substitutes
Olive oil: We have a delicious Organic Arbequina Olive Oil in our shop
Chicken breasts: Chicken thighs will work great as well, just increase cook time slightly.
Cajun seasoning: Click here to purchase or come on in to our shop!
Bell peppers: I use 1 red and 1 yellow but any combo of color works.
Red onion: In a pinch, yellow onion works fine too.
Garlic: Click here to purchase or come on in to the shop!
Penne pasta: I don’t recommend using a different type of pasta unless you are willing to experiment a little (others may need more/less liquid).
Heavy cream: If you are looking to cut calories you could try half and half but you may want to increase the cornstarch by 1 tsp.
Cornstarch: This is used to thicken the sauce just slightly.
Parmesan cheese: Romano cheese would also be tasty.
Parsley: Click here to purchase or come on in to the shop!
Salt : Click here to purchase or come on in to the shop!
Pepper : Click here to purchase or come on in to the shop!
How to Make Cajun Chicken Pasta in One Pot
Seven easy steps to this simple recipe:
Heat pan: Heat 1 Tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat.
Season chicken, add to pot: Toss chicken with 1/2 Tbsp cajun seasoning. Add to pot in a single layer.
Cook chicken through, transfer: Cook until browned on bottom, about 3 minutes then turn and continue to cook through, about 3 minutes longer. Transfer to a sheet of foil and wrap to keep warm.
Saute veggies in pot: Heat remaining 1/2 Tbsp olive oil in same pot over medium-high heat. Add bell peppers and onion and saute 3 minutes. Add garlic and remaining 1 Tbsp cajun seasoning and saute 1 minute longer.
Add liquids, boil then add pasta: Pour in chicken broth, tomatoes, and 1/2 cup heavy cream. Bring mixture to a boil, then add pasta.
Cook pasta, thicken sauce: Cook, stirring frequently until pasta is nearly tender, about 12 – 13 minutes. Add cornstarch and water mixture and cook until pasta is just tender and sauce mixture has thickened, about 1 minute longer.
Add remaining ingredients and serve: Remove from heat. Toss in remaining 1/4 cup cream, parmesan, parsley and cooked chicken and season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve warm.
Variations
Use another protein like shrimp (reduce cook time of course it only needs about 1.5 minutes per side), or try andouille sausage.
Make it vegetarian by using more vegetables in place of chicken. Good options would be zucchini, corn, mushrooms, spinach, thin sliced carrots, etc.
For a tangy flavor you can try 3 oz of softened diced cream cheese at the end in place of the last 1/4 cup cream. Halve cornstarch if going this route.
If you don’t have fire roasted tomatoes, you can try diced tomatoes with mild green chilies.
Helpful Tips
Be careful not to overcook the chicken or it will be dry. Just cook right to 165 in center.
Cook pasta just to al dente texture. It will continue to soften slightly off heat.
I recommend sticking with the homemade cajun seasoning so there’s more control over saltiness and heat level.
If you opt to use another brand of pasta just keep in mind the amount of liquid needed and cook time may vary slightly.