Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta Ready in Just 30 Minutes
A flavorful Cajun Chicken Pasta recipe ready in under 30 minutes, perfect for family dinners.
Equipment
- Large skillet
- pot for boiling pasta
- - Knife
- Cutting board
Ingredients
For the Pasta
- 8 oz Pasta Bows Can substitute with penne or rigatoni
For the Chicken
- 1 lb Chicken Breasts Cut into even pieces
For the Vegetables
- 1 cup Red Bell Peppers Can replace with green peppers
- 1 cup Yellow Bell Peppers Can replace with green peppers
- 1 medium Yellow Onion Can substitute with shallots
- 2 cloves Minced Garlic Fresh garlic is preferable
For the Sauce
- 2 tbsp Butter Preferably use Kerrygold
- 2 tbsp Cajun Seasoning Adjust for heat preference
- to taste Salt Adjust to taste
- to taste Pepper Adjust to taste
- 8 oz Cream Cheese Use softened cream cheese
- 1 cup Milk Whole milk yields creamier results
- 1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese Freshly grated melts better
Instructions
How to Make Cajun Chicken Pasta
- Prep Ingredients: Start by cutting the chicken into 1-inch chunks. Slice bell peppers, dice the onion, mince the garlic, and grate the parmesan cheese.
- Cook Pasta: Boil pasta bows according to package directions for 9-11 minutes until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, drain and set aside.
- Make Sauce Base: Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds.
- Cook Chicken: Toss in diced onions followed by chicken chunks. Cook until golden brown and cooked through, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add Vegetables: Stir in bell peppers along with Cajun seasoning and cook for an additional 3-4 minutes.
- Prepare Sauce: Lower heat, pour milk, and add softened cream cheese. Stir until the sauce is smooth and creamy.
- Combine: Toss cooked pasta into the skillet with the sauce, adding reserved pasta water as needed. Stir in parmesan cheese until melted.
- Serve & Enjoy: Adjust seasoning if necessary and serve hot. Optional: Top with chopped parsley.
Notes
Perfect for weeknight dinners, and easily adjustable for spice levels.