Cajun Chicken Pasta

Cajun Chicken Pasta Recipe

This easy to make Cajun Chicken Pasta recipe is loaded with vibrant flavors! Juicy, boldly flavored chicken breasts, perfectly cooked linguini pasta and a decadent sauce made with Parmesan cheese and heavy cream come together to create a memorable, mouth watering dish the whole family will love. Simple to prepare, this amazing chicken dinner is perfect for busy weeknights or special occasions.

This tantalizing recipe comes together quickly and calls for surprisingly few ingredients. I use my homemade Cajun seasoning to add incredible flavor to the chicken but you can always pick up your favorite store bought seasoning if you prefer.

This recipe is so quick and easy to make. The chicken breasts are first rubbed with Cajun seasoning and then get browned in a skillet. The cream sauce begins with a foundation of flavor including onion, red bell pepper and garlic. Chicken broth, heavy cream and Parmesan cheese create a decadent, silky sauce that perfectly coats each strand of linguini. Serve with your favorite side salad and some crusty bread and dig in!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta is easy enough for a weeknight yet impressive enough for entertaining. Spicy, creamy, cheesy and so, so good!

• Bold Flavors: The Cajun seasoning delivers a warm, spicy flavor that is perfectly balanced with the creamy sauce.
• Creamy: With heavy cream and Parmesan cheese, the sauce is rich and velvety and perfectly complements the Cajun rubbed chicken breasts.
• Customizable: Easily adjust the spice level or add different vegetables to suit your taste.

How To Make Cajun Chicken Pasta

Crazy flavorful, quick and easy, this creamy pasta dish is one of our go-to recipes! Let’s take a quick look at the steps for making this dish and, as always, you can find the full, printable recipe card at the end of this post.

1. Cook Pasta. Bring a large, salted pot of water to a boil and cook pasta until al dente.
2. Prepare the Chicken. Season the chicken breasts with Cajun seasoning and sauté in olive oil and butter until cooked through. Remove from the skillet.
3. Cook Vegetables. Sauté onions and bell peppers until soft. Add tomato paste and garlic and cook until fragrant.
4. Build the Sauce. Stir in chicken broth and cook until reduced slightly. Add heavy cream and Parmesan cheese and stir until melted and sauce beings to thicken.
5. Combine. Toss the cooked pasta in the sauce, adjust seasoning and add the sliced chicken.
6. Garnish. Serve as is or garnish with green onion, Parmesan cheese and diced tomatoes.

Storage Information

• Refrigerator. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• Freezer. I do not recommend freezing this recipe.
• Reheating. Gently reheat any leftovers on a low setting in the microwave or on the stovetop until heated through. Add a little cream or broth if needed.

Variations To Try

• To reduce the spiciness, simply reduce the amount of Cajun seasoning.
• Cream adds richness to this sauce but if you’re looking for a lighter option, half and half will also work. You may want to make a slurry with a teaspoon or two of cornstarch to ensure the sauce is thick enough.
• This recipe calls for linguine pasta but feel free to use your preferred pasta: spaghetti, fettuccine or any other pasta can be used.

Trish’s Tips

This creamy Cajun chicken pasta recipe comes together quickly and easily and is loaded with flavor. Here are some tips for achieving the best results:

• If the sauce is too thick after adding the pasta, stir in small amounts of pasta water to help loosen the sauce.
• Cook pasta just to al dente to keep it from overcooking or getting mushy when added to the sauce.
• Slice chicken breasts in half to make cutlets of similar size and thickness. If necessary, pound thicker to an even thickness with a kitchen mallet.
• If you prefer, boneless skinless chicken thighs can be substituted for the chicken breasts.
• I used my homemade Cajun Seasoning for this recipe but store bought will work as well.
• The onions and bell peppers are classic ingredients in Cajun dishes but can be eliminated if you prefer.
• Parmesan adds flavor and richness to the sauce. Parmesan can be rather salty so check for the need for any additional salt after the cheese has been incorporated.

Serving Suggestions

This Cajun Chicken Pasta is nearly a complete meal on it’s own but we love to serve it with a crisp green salad or roasted veggies and some garlic bread or other crusty bread.

Make extra Cajun chicken breasts and save for salads or sandwiches!