Description

This One Pot Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta is a flavorful and easy-to-make meal combining tender Cajun-seasoned chicken and penne pasta in a rich, creamy sauce. Perfect for a weeknight dinner, it’s cooked entirely in one pan for minimal cleanup and maximum comfort.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken & Seasoning

2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, sliced into strips
2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
2 tablespoons olive oil

Vegetables & Aromatics

1 small onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup diced bell peppers (optional)

Liquids & Dairy

2 cups chicken broth
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Seasoning & Garnish

1/2 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)
Additional Parmesan cheese (optional, for serving)

Pasta

8 ounces penne pasta (uncooked)

Instructions

Season the Chicken: Season the sliced chicken strips evenly with Cajun seasoning, ensuring all pieces are fully coated for maximum flavor.
Cook the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet or deep pan over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned chicken and cook for 5–6 minutes until golden brown and fully cooked. Remove chicken from the pan and set aside.
Sauté Aromatics: In the same pan, add diced onions and sauté for about 3 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant, taking care not to burn the garlic.
Add Pasta and Liquid: Pour in the chicken broth and heavy cream. Stir the mixture well, then add the uncooked penne pasta along with optional diced bell peppers for added texture and flavor.
Simmer the Pasta: Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Cover the pan and cook for 10–12 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, until the pasta becomes tender and most of the liquid has reduced to a creamy consistency.
Make It Creamy: Stir in the freshly grated Parmesan cheese, salt, and black pepper. Allow the sauce to simmer for an additional 2–3 minutes to thicken and become luscious and creamy.
Add Chicken Back: Return the cooked chicken strips to the pan and gently stir to combine all ingredients. Let everything cook together for another 2 minutes so the flavors meld perfectly.
Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley and extra Parmesan cheese over the pasta as a garnish. Serve warm for a hearty, satisfying meal.

Notes

Adjust the amount of Cajun seasoning based on your heat preference.
Use freshly grated Parmesan for best flavor and texture.
For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or whole milk, though sauce will be less rich.
Optional bell peppers can be omitted or swapped with other vegetables like mushrooms or spinach.
Stir occasionally while simmering pasta to prevent sticking to the pan.
Leftovers can be refrigerated up to 3 days and reheated gently on stovetop with a splash of cream or broth.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American

Keywords: Cajun chicken pasta, creamy pasta, one pot pasta, easy dinner recipe, chicken penne pasta, Cajun seasoning recipe