Name: Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 12 ounces penne pasta (about 3 cups dry); 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 tablespoon butter; 2 large chicken breasts cut into bite-sized pieces (about 1 ½ pounds); 1-2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning; Kosher salt; 3 tablespoons butter; 2 cloves garlic (minced); 1 cup chicken broth (divided); 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour; 2 cups nonfat milk; 3/4 cup fresh shredded Parmesan cheese; 1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley; 3 Roma tomatoes (diced)

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This Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta recipe has tender bites of penne pasta and cajun-seasoned chicken in a spicy, creamy sauce. It’s ready in about 30 minutes, making it a perfect midweek meal.

Serve with a cool, crisp Steakhouse Chopped Salad and some crusty bread. Top your pasta with fresh tomatoes and parsley for the perfect finish!

Pasta and chicken with diced tomatoes in a creamy sauce and in a large skillet with orange handles.

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Table of Contents

Recipe Highlights
Ingredients
How To Make Cajun Chicken Pasta
Storage
Pro Tips
Try These Creamy Chicken Pasta Recipes Next
Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta Recipe

Recipe Highlights

Lightning Fast Meal – This simple meal is ready to go in just about 30 minutes.
Creamy Sauce – The ultra creamy, smooth sauce is like a kicked up Alfredo, with fresh garlic, cajun spice, and fresh Parmesan cheese.
Customize the Heat – Make it hot and spicy or a little less so by making your own cajun seasoning.
Complete Meal – Fresh Roma tomatoes on top make this hearty dish a complete meal.

Ingredients

Penne Pasta – My preferred pasta for this recipe, but you could use any type of pasta you like, including rotini, farfalle or even fettucine.
Olive Oil and Butter – For cooking the chicken.
Chicken – Boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces.
Cajun Seasoning – Use a premixed seasoning or make your own with my homemade cajun seasoning recipe.
Garlic – Fresh is best, but jarred minced garlic works too.
Chicken Broth – Opt for low-sodium.
Flour – All-purpose, or whatever you typically use for thickening.
Milk – I use fat free milk to keep the calories lower, but whatever you have on hand will work. The higher the fat content, the creamier the sauce will be.
Parmesan Cheese – Freshly grated off the block. Do not use pre-grated.
Fresh Roma Tomatoes – Diced and used as a garnish.
Fresh Parsley – For garnish

How To Make Cajun Chicken Pasta

See recipe card below for ingredient quantities and full instructions.

Cook the Pasta: Boil some water and cook the pasta according to package directions.
Cook the Chicken: Season chicken with homemade cajun seasoning and cook in a large skillet with butter and olive oil. Transfer to a plate.
Make the Sauce: Saute garlic in some butter and then deglaze the pan with a little chicken broth. Scrape up all the little brown bits left behind from the chicken – there’s a ton of flavor there! Whisk in and cook some flour, then whisk in milk and more chicken broth. Simmer until it’s thickened.
Add Cheese and Toss: Remove from heat and stir in Parmesan cheese in small handfuls until it’s completely melted. Toss the chicken and pasta with the sauce.
Serve: Garnish with fresh diced tomatoes and chopped parsley.

Collage of images depicting the steps for making cajun chicken pasta.

Storage

Refrigerate: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.

Freeze: Freeze in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw completely in the refrigerator before reheating. Keep in mind that the sauce may break as it thaws.

Reheat: Add a little more milk and/or chicken broth and heat slowly on the stove. If you prefer to reheat in the microwave, add about 1-2 tablespoons of milk per cup of pasta and reheat at 50% power. This will keep it nice and creamy and won’t dry out the chicken.

Pro Tips

Different Cuts of Chicken – You can use chicken tenders, whole boneless chicken breasts, or chicken thighs. Just manage the cooking times accordingly.
Cajun Seasoning – You can make your own using the recipe that I will include in the recipe card below, or purchased a pre-mixed seasoning blend, like McCormick.
Heat Level – To best control the spiciness of this dish, I recommend making your own spice blend. Use less cayenne in the blend, or use less of the seasoning overall.
Cheese – The sauce is similar in flavor to an Alfredo. If you want to try something different, add a little mozzarella or Monterey Jack cheese instead of, or in addition to the Parmesan.
Try Shrimp – This recipe is fantastic with shrimp!
Add Some Bacon – Put the finished dish completely over the top by adding some crumbled bacon.

White plate with pasta and chicken with diced tomatoes and a creamy sauce and a fork.

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Recipe