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Easy 30-Minute Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta

A close-up of creamy cajun chicken pasta featuring fettuccine noodles, seasoned chicken pieces, and bell peppers in a rich orange sauce.
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You can make this restaurant-style Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta quickly. This recipe delivers bold Cajun spice and a rich, velvety sauce perfect for a weeknight dinner solution.

Ingredients

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  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 red bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 green bell pepper, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning (adjust for spice preference)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 12 ounces fettuccine or penne pasta
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve about 1 cup of the starchy pasta water before draining. Set the drained pasta aside.
  2. Season the chicken pieces with 1 teaspoon of the Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper.
  3. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5 to 7 minutes. Remove the chicken and set it aside.
  4. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the butter to the skillet. Add the chopped onion and bell peppers. Cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
  5. Add the minced garlic and the remaining 1 teaspoon of Cajun seasoning. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  6. Pour in the chicken broth and Worcestershire sauce. Bring the mixture to a simmer, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Let it reduce slightly for about 3 minutes.
  7. Stir in the heavy cream and bring the sauce back to a gentle simmer. Do not boil.
  8. Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until the sauce is smooth and creamy. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water until you reach your desired consistency for this spicy cream pasta.
  9. Return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Add the cooked pasta and toss everything together until the pasta is fully coated in the parmesan cream sauce pasta.
  10. Serve immediately, garnished with fresh parsley. This quick creamy pasta dinner is ready.

Notes

  • For an even richer flavor, use half-and-half instead of heavy cream, but watch the simmering time closely to prevent scorching.
  • If you want to make this a one pan cajun chicken pasta, cook the chicken and vegetables in the same pan you use to finish the sauce, adding the broth and cream directly to the skillet after sautéing.
  • This recipe works well with shrimp instead of chicken for a zesty chicken pasta variation.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://www.unfoldrecipes.com/creamy-cajun-chicken-pasta/