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Quick 30-Minute Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta

A close-up of creamy cajun chicken pasta featuring penne noodles and chunks of seasoned chicken, garnished with parsley.
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Make restaurant-style Cajun chicken pasta at home in just 30 minutes. This recipe features tender chicken in a rich, spicy cream sauce.

Ingredients

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  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust for heat)
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 4 ounces cream cheese, cubed
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 8 ounces penne pasta
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain the pasta, reserving about 1/2 cup of the starchy cooking water. Set the pasta aside.
  2. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken pieces. Season the chicken with salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, oregano, thyme, and cayenne pepper. Cook until the chicken is browned and cooked through, about 5 to 7 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside.
  3. Reduce the heat to medium. Pour the chicken broth into the skillet and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom. Let it simmer for 1 minute.
  4. Stir in the heavy cream and the cubed cream cheese. Whisk constantly until the cream cheese is completely melted and the sauce is smooth.
  5. Stir in the Parmesan cheese until the sauce thickens slightly. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water until you reach your desired consistency.
  6. Return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Add the drained pasta to the sauce and toss everything together until the pasta is fully coated.
  7. Serve immediately, garnished with fresh parsley.

Notes

  • For a deeper Cajun flavor, use a pre-made Cajun seasoning blend instead of mixing individual spices.
  • If you prefer shrimp instead of chicken, substitute 1 pound of peeled and deveined shrimp and cook them for only 2 to 3 minutes per side until pink.
  • To increase the vegetable content, sauté 1/2 cup of sliced bell peppers and 1/4 cup of chopped onion before adding the chicken.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://cookerycourier.com/creamy-cajun-chicken-pasta-recipe/