Description
This One Pot Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta is a flavorful and comforting dish made with tender chicken, penne pasta, and a rich, creamy sauce infused with homemade Cajun seasoning. It’s an easy, all-in-one meal perfect for busy weeknights that uses mostly pantry ingredients for convenience.
Ingredients
Cajun Seasoning
- 2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp thyme
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp salt
Chicken Pasta
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 Tbsp butter
- 1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1/2 to 3/4-inch cubes
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 1/2 lb. penne pasta (uncooked)
- 15 oz. fire roasted diced tomatoes, with juices
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 2 oz. cream cheese
- 3 green onions, sliced
Instructions
- Prepare Cajun Seasoning and Chicken: In a small bowl, combine all the Cajun seasoning ingredients. Cut the chicken into cubes and toss with the seasoning mixture until evenly coated.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat the olive oil and butter in a large deep skillet over medium-high heat until the butter melts and foams. Add the seasoned chicken and cook for a few minutes on each side until the pieces get some color; they do not need to be fully cooked through at this stage.
- Sauté Onion: Add the diced yellow onion to the skillet and cook for about 2 minutes until it starts to soften, using the moisture to deglaze and loosen any browned bits from the pan.
- Add Pasta and Liquids: Stir in the uncooked penne pasta, fire roasted diced tomatoes with their juices, and chicken broth until combined evenly. Cover the skillet with a lid and bring the mixture to a boil.
- Simmer Pasta: Reduce the heat to medium-low and let the pasta simmer, stirring every couple of minutes, for about 10 minutes or until the pasta is tender and the liquid thickens into a sauce.
- Melt Cream Cheese Into Sauce: Add chunks of cream cheese into the skillet and stir until melted and fully incorporated into the sauce, creating a creamy texture.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle sliced green onions over the top of the pasta, then serve immediately while hot.
Notes
- For extra spice, increase the amount of cayenne pepper or add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes.
- Use low-sodium chicken broth to control sodium levels in the dish.
- Substitute penne with any other small pasta like rotini or farfalle if preferred.
- Leftovers keep well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheat nicely with a splash of broth or water to loosen the sauce.
- If cream cheese is not available, a mixture of heavy cream and grated Parmesan can be used for a different creamy effect.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
