Creamy One-Pot Cajun Chicken Pasta
A quick and easy one-pot meal combining bold Cajun spices with creamy sauce, tender chicken, and pasta for a cozy, flavorful dinner.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
- 1 cup diced bell peppers (mix of red and green)
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 8 oz uncooked penne pasta
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Cut chicken breasts into roughly 1-inch pieces. Dice onion and bell peppers, mince garlic.
- Heat olive oil in a large deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken pieces and sprinkle 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning. Cook, stirring occasionally, until chicken is browned but not fully cooked (about 5-6 minutes). Transfer chicken to a plate.
- In the same skillet, add onion and bell peppers. Sprinkle remaining tablespoon of Cajun seasoning and sauté until softened and fragrant, about 3-4 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
- Pour in chicken broth and scrape browned bits from the pan. Stir in uncooked penne pasta, then add chicken back to skillet. Bring to a gentle boil, reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 15-18 minutes, stirring halfway through, until pasta is tender and most liquid absorbed.
- Lower heat to medium and stir in heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese. Mix until sauce is creamy and coats pasta evenly. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
- Turn off heat, sprinkle fresh parsley on top, and let sit for 1-2 minutes before serving.
Notes
If sauce is too thick, add more broth or cream to loosen. If too thin, simmer uncovered a few minutes. Use freshly grated Parmesan for best flavor. Stir occasionally during simmering to prevent sticking. For gluten-free, use rice or chickpea flour penne. Heavy cream can be swapped for half-and-half or whole milk for a lighter sauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1/4 of the rec
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 700
- Fat: 20
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 30
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 30
Keywords: Cajun chicken pasta, one-pot pasta, creamy chicken pasta, easy dinner, quick pasta recipe, Cajun seasoning, comfort food