I’m so excited about this Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta Skillet! It’s a cheesy and a slightly spicy chicken with pasta that’s all cooked in just one skillet!
Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta Recipe:
This creamy and cheesy goodness comes together in less than 30 minutes and is bursting with delicious spices in a creamy sauce.
- Start by seasoning cut up boneless skinless chicken thighs in some cajun seasoning.
- I prefer to use chicken thighs, but you can easily switch them out for chicken breast if desired.
- To switch things up even more, you could use some andouille sausage in place of the chicken.
What type of Pasta Should I Use?
- Once your chicken is seared, toss in your preferred pasta. I used a campanelli noodle because it’s twirly and fun, but you could use any pasta that you prefer.
- You could substitute in penne, ziti, shells, or whatever you have on hand.
- If you want to make this LOW CARB: remove the pasta and add in either some cooked spaghetti squash, zucchini noodles, or cauliflower rice. REDUCE the chicken broth to 1/2 cup and cook until the substituted noodle is tender.
How To Make Creamy Cajun Sauce:
- Once the noodles are cooked, stir in a little heavy cream and some extra cajun seasoning.
- To make the dish extra creamy, stir in 2 tbsp of cream cheese until it’s melted into the sauce.
- Top the oven-safe skillet with cheese and pop it under the broiler to get it nice and bubbly.
What Is Cajun Spice Made Of?
Cajun Spice is a blend of seasonings including garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, oregano, thyme, paprika and a little heat from some cayenne pepper. If you don’t have a jar of cajun seasoning in your cupboard, here is a Simple Cajun Spice Recipe to use:
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp coarse salt
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried thyme
What Should I Serve Cajun Chicken Pasta With?
This creamy chicken pasta dish would pair perfectly with a cool Caesar salad, garden salad, Parmesan Roasted Broccoli, or even served by itself!
Can I Make Cajun Chicken Pasta In Advance?
You can definitely make this creamy chicken pasta dish in advance and serve it later. In fact, the cajun flavors in this dish get better as it sits, but there are a few things to keep in mind if you’re wanting to make this recipe in advance.
- The longer this dish sits, the less creamy it’ll become, because the sauce will absorb more into the pasta.
- One option is to cook everything except the pasta in advance, then just before serving combine the cooked pasta with the re-heated chicken and creamy sauce.
- Keep the creamy cajun chicken pasta refrigerated in an air tight container until ready to serve.
More Chicken Pasta Dishes To Try:
- BBQ Chicken Pasta Skillet
- Creamy Chicken Asparagus Pasta Skillet
- Thai Chicken Pasta Salad
- One Skillet Chicken Parmesan Pasta
HELPFUL PRODUCTS TO MAKE THIS RECIPE:
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Cajun Chicken Pasta Skillet
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 lbs. boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-size pieces
- salt & pepper
- 2 tbsp cajun seasoning, divided
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 large onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 10 oz. uncooked campanelli noodles
- 2 tbsp heavy cream
- 1 1/2 cups monterey jack cheese, shredded
- parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Season the diced chicken thighs with salt, pepper and 1 tbsp of the cajun seasoning.
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat and cook chicken until browned on all sides, stirring occasionally. Add the bell pepper, onion and garlic to the skillet. Cook another couple minutes until the onions and pepper are tender.
- Add the chicken broth and uncooked noodles to the skillet, stir to combine. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cover and cook for 10 to 15 minutes or until pasta is tender, stirring occasionally.
- Stir in the heavy cream and remaining cajun seasoning until combined. Top with the shredded monterey jack cheese and broil about 5 inches away from the heating element in your oven for about 2 to 3 minutes, or until cheese is slightly browned and bubbly. Carefully remove from oven, let cool slightly, garnish with parsley if desired and enjoy!
Notes
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp coarse salt
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried thyme
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