The Creamiest Cajun Chicken Pasta Recipe You’ll Ever Taste

Culinary magic happens when this creamy cajun chicken pasta lands on your dinner table, promising a flavor explosion that’ll make taste buds dance.

Spicy seasonings blend seamlessly with silky sauce, creating a dish that whispers comfort and shouts excitement.

Weeknight dinners rarely feel this luxurious without complicated preparation steps.

Warm, rich flavors meander through each perfectly coated pasta strand, delivering Southern charm in every bite.

Robust spices from Louisiana’s kitchen tradition infuse each ingredient with extraordinary depth.

Comfort meets boldness in a plate that feels like a warm embrace from a New Orleans chef.

Hungry?

This recipe is about to become your new weeknight obsession.

Why Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta Is Always A Hit

• Quickly Spice Up Weeknight Dinners: This Cajun chicken pasta transforms ordinary ingredients into an exciting, flavor-packed meal that breaks the monotony of standard weeknight cooking, delivering restaurant-quality taste in just 30 minutes.
• Master One-Pan Convenience: Simplify your cooking process with this single-skillet recipe that minimizes dirty dishes, reduces cleanup time, and allows seamless transitions between cooking stages without complicated techniques.
• Customize for Every Palate: Adjust the Cajun seasoning to control spice levels, making this dish perfect for families with varying heat tolerances – from mild to wild – ensuring everyone enjoys a personalized dining experience.
• Elevate Comfort Food Status: Combine creamy sauce, tender chicken, and bold Cajun flavors to create a crowd-pleasing meal that feels indulgent yet surprisingly easy to prepare, turning an ordinary dinner into a memorable culinary moment.

What You’ll Need For Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta

• Chicken Strips: Lean protein that absorbs the bold Cajun flavors, choose boneless and skinless for easy cooking.
• Parmesan Cheese: Adds rich, salty depth to the dish, select freshly grated for best melting and flavor.

• Bell Peppers: Colorful and crunchy base that adds sweetness and texture, mix red and green for visual appeal.
• Garlic: Provides intense aromatic base, fresh cloves offer more robust flavor than pre-minced.

• Cajun Seasoning: Signature spice blend that creates signature Louisiana-style heat, homemade or store-bought work well.
• Heavy Cream: Creates luxurious and smooth sauce texture, full-fat version provides richest consistency.
• Chicken Broth: Adds depth and liquid balance to sauce, low-sodium version allows better seasoning control.
• Olive Oil: Helps sauté ingredients and prevents sticking, extra virgin offers best flavor.
• Salt and Pepper: Essential for final flavor adjustment, freshly ground provides most vibrant taste.

• Pasta: Holds creamy sauce well, choose short shapes like penne or rotini for maximum sauce coverage.

• Fresh Parsley: Adds bright color and fresh herb note, chop just before serving for maximum flavor.

Simple Steps For Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta

Step 1: Sizzle the Protein

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high flame. Sprinkle Cajun seasoning generously over chicken strips. Cook the chicken until it turns a gorgeous golden brown and reaches perfect doneness. Once cooked, transfer the chicken to a waiting plate.

Step 2: Awaken the Vegetables

• Colorful bell peppers
• Minced garlic

Sauté the vegetables until they become slightly tender and release their aromatic magic.

Step 3: Create Luxurious Sauce

• Heavy cream
• Chicken broth
• Remaining Cajun seasoning

Stir the ingredients until they blend into a smooth, creamy symphony. Allow the sauce to shimmer and bubble gently.

Step 4: Prepare Pasta Perfection

Cook pasta in boiling water following package guidelines. Drain the noodles, letting them rest briefly.

Step 5: Marry the Flavors

• Cooked chicken
• Drained pasta
• Parmesan cheese

Toss everything together, ensuring each strand and piece gets drenched in the decadent sauce. Sprinkle salt and pepper to enhance the flavors.

Step 6: Serve with Flair

Scatter fresh parsley across the top. Add an extra sprinkle of Parmesan if desired. Plate immediately and enjoy the Southern-inspired feast.

Smart Tips For Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta

• Spice Up Smartly: Adjust Cajun seasoning to match your heat tolerance by adding more or less of the spice blend.
• Pasta Perfection: Choose pasta with ridges or curves like penne or fusilli to help sauce cling better and create more flavor in every bite.
• Vegetable Variation: Swap bell peppers with zucchini, mushrooms, or spinach for a different nutritional profile and exciting taste twist.
• Cream Consistency Control: If sauce appears too thick, splash some pasta water to thin it out and create a silky, smooth texture.
• Dietary Swap Hack: Replace heavy cream with coconut milk for a dairy-free version or use Greek yogurt for a lighter, protein-packed alternative.

Keeping Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta Fresh

• Refrigerate leftover pasta in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days.
• Cool the dish completely before storing to prevent bacterial growth.
• Gently reheat in a skillet with a splash of chicken broth to restore moisture and prevent drying out.
• Avoid freezing this creamy pasta, as the sauce may separate and become grainy when thawed, compromising the smooth texture.
• For best quality, consume within 48 hours of preparation and always check for any signs of spoilage before reheating.

Tasty Combos With Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta

• Pair with Zesty White Wine: Complement the spicy Cajun flavors with a crisp Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio, which cuts through the creamy sauce and balances the dish's heat.
• Enhance with Refreshing Side Salad: Create a light contrast by serving a tangy mixed green salad with a lemon vinaigrette, helping to cleanse the palate between rich, creamy bites.
• Match with Crusty Garlic Bread: Add a crunchy accompaniment that soaks up the delicious sauce, providing textural variety and extra flavor to the meal.
• Cool Down with Cucumber Slaw: Prepare a quick cucumber and dill slaw to add a fresh, cool element that neutralizes the spicy Cajun seasoning and provides a crisp counterpoint.

New Ways To Enjoy Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta

• Seafood Sensation: Swap chicken with shrimp or a mix of seafood like scallops and crab, keeping the Cajun seasoning for a coastal flavor profile.
• Vegetarian Veggie Blast: Replace chicken with firm tofu or roasted cauliflower, adding extra vegetables like zucchini and mushrooms for a plant-based version.
• Spicy Southern Heat: Increase Cajun seasoning and add a dash of hot sauce or red pepper flakes for those who love an extra kick of spiciness.
• Low-Carb Alternative: Substitute pasta with spiralized zucchini noodles or cauliflower rice to create a lighter, lower-carbohydrate meal while maintaining the rich, creamy sauce.

Answers To Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta Questions

• What makes Cajun seasoning special?

Cajun seasoning is a bold spice blend originating from Louisiana, typically combining paprika, garlic powder, black pepper, cayenne, and oregano. It adds a fantastic kick and depth of flavor to dishes, making them exciting and zesty.

• Can I make this recipe less spicy?

Absolutely! Reduce the Cajun seasoning amount or use a mild version. You can also substitute with a blend that has less cayenne pepper to control the heat level while keeping the delicious flavor profile.

• Is Cajun Chicken Pasta a good meal for meal prep?

Yes, this pasta dish reheats well and stays creamy. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. When reheating, add a splash of chicken broth to restore the sauce’s smooth consistency.

• What protein alternatives work in this recipe?

If chicken isn’t your preference, try shrimp, sliced sausage, or even tofu. Each protein will bring a unique twist to the classic Cajun Chicken Pasta while maintaining the dish’s signature spicy, creamy essence.

Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.5 from 34 reviews

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Creamy cajun chicken pasta delivers a spicy Southern symphony of flavors dancing across your plate. Rich with bold Cajun spices and silky sauce, this dish promises a culinary journey you’ll savor with every delicious bite.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Protein:

• 2 large chicken breasts, sliced into thin strips
• 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning (divided)

Vegetables and Aromatics:

• 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Pasta and Sauce Ingredients:

• 8 ounces (226 grams) fettuccine or penne pasta
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup chicken broth
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• Extra Parmesan, for serving (optional)

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Infuse chicken strips with robust Cajun seasoning, ensuring each piece is thoroughly coated with the zesty spice blend.
2. Sear seasoned chicken in a sizzling skillet with olive oil, developing a golden-brown exterior while maintaining tender, juicy meat. Transfer chicken to a holding plate once perfectly cooked.
3. Utilize the same skillet to capture residual flavors, sautéing vibrant bell peppers and aromatic garlic until peppers become slightly translucent and fragrant.
4. Craft a luxurious sauce by introducing heavy cream, chicken broth, and remaining Cajun seasoning. Allow the mixture to gently simmer, creating a velvety, rich base that will envelop the pasta and protein.
5. Simultaneously prepare pasta in a separate pot, cooking until it reaches an al dente texture. Drain carefully, preserving the pasta’s perfect consistency.
6. Merge the culinary components by reuniting the seared chicken, perfectly cooked pasta, and creamy sauce in the skillet. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese, gently tossing to ensure each element is generously coated with the spicy, creamy sauce.
7. Elevate the dish’s presentation by garnishing with fresh parsley and an additional dusting of Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately while the pasta remains steaming and the sauce retains its silky smoothness.

Notes

• Select a high-quality Cajun seasoning blend for maximum flavor depth and authentic spice profile.
• Slice chicken into uniform strips to ensure even cooking and consistent texture throughout the dish.
• Pat chicken dry before seasoning to help achieve a beautiful golden-brown exterior when sautéing.
• Use a heavy-bottomed skillet to prevent sauce from burning and distribute heat evenly during cooking.
• Choose short pasta like penne or rotini to help sauce cling better and create more balanced bites.
• Grate fresh Parmesan cheese for richer, more complex flavor compared to pre-packaged alternatives.
• Keep extra chicken broth nearby to adjust sauce consistency if it becomes too thick during simmering.
• Control spice levels by adjusting Cajun seasoning quantity for sensitive palates or heat preferences.
• For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or Greek yogurt to reduce calories.
• Consider adding protein-packed extras like shrimp or andouille sausage for more traditional Cajun flair.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Lunch
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: Cajun

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 650 kcal
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 30 g
• Saturated Fat: 12 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 60 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 35 g
• Cholesterol: 150 mg