Cajun Chicken Pasta Recipe For Two – Easy 30 Minute Meal

Cajun Chicken Pasta is the perfect meal when you want something delicious without spending hours in the kitchen. It’s packed with flavor, simple to make, and can be ready to eat in just 30 minutes.

Chunks of chicken coated in Cajun seasoning and cooked with pasta in a delicious cream sauce. It is an easy and delicious, one skillet dinner recipe that has a ton of flavor.

It is the perfect meal to make on a busy weeknight. However, it is elegant enough to make as a special occasion dinner as well.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

1. The Flavor

Cajun Chicken Pasta is known for its bold and slightly spicy flavor. The Cajun seasoning mix brings together the blend of spices of smoked paprika, thyme, oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper giving the dish a smoky, spicy kick.

Combined with juicy chicken and creamy sauce, you will have a meal that is not only satisfying but also one that you will want to make over and over again.

2. Ease of Preparation

One of the best things about Cajun Chicken Pasta is how easy it is to make. Here are the simple steps:

Season the Chicken: Start by cutting your chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces and then coat them with the Cajun seasoning.

Cook the Chicken: Heat some oil in a large skillet and cook the chicken until it’s brown on all sides (the chicken will not be cooked all the way through).

Saute The Onion: In the same skillet, sauté the onion. Then use a wooden spatula to deglaze the bottom of the skillet.

Combine and Cook the Pasta: Once the onion becomes slightly tender, add the fire roasted diced tomatoes, chicken broth and your uncooked pasta directly into the skillet with the chicken and onion. Cover and let it cook, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is tender and the sauce has thickened. This will take around 10-12 minutes.

That’s it! You’ve got a complete meal ready to eat in just 30 minutes.

3. One-Skillet Convenience

Just like when making my Chicken Parmesan Pasta recipe, you will use just one skillet for the entire dish. You cook the chicken, make the sauce, and boil the pasta all in one pan.

Therefore, because there is only one pan, this means less time spent on cleaning up after dinner. It’s perfect for busy weeknights when you want a tasty meal but don’t want to deal with a lot of dishes.

What Type of Pasta To Use For This Cajun Chicken Pasta Recipe

You can use different types of pasta based on what you have on hand or what you prefer. Although you just want to make sure that you choose a pasta that will hold the sauce well. Here are a few good options:

• Penne: A classic choice that holds the sauce well.
• Rotini: The spiral shape traps the sauce in its twists, ensuring every bite is flavorful.
• Fettuccine: Long and flat, this pasta is great for soaking up the creamy sauce.
• Linguine: Similar to fettuccine but slightly narrower, offering a good balance of sauce and pasta.

Cajun Seasoning

The majority of the flavor in this Cajun Chicken Pasta dish comes from the Cajun seasoning. However, there are several varieties of Cajun seasoning to choose from at the grocery, each with a different level of spiciness.

As a general guideline, if you prefer a milder seasoning with a little less heat, choose a Cajun seasoning made from a company that makes a lot of other spices. However, if you like a little spicier foods, it is best to purchase a Louisiana style Cajun seasoning like Slap Ya Mama. (See Affiliate Product Link: Slap Ya Mama Cajun Seasoning).

Although, if you want to enjoy this recipe and don’t want to purchase another container of seasoning to store for months, it is easy to make your own Homemade Cajun seasoning by combining a few spices that you already have in your kitchen.

Homemade Cajun Seasoning Recipe

• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp onion powder
• 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper powder (more to taste)
• 1/8 tsp black pepper
• 1/8 tsp salt

Mix all the spices together and then use as instructed in the recipe.

Cajun Chicken Pasta Recipe

*A printable recipe card is located at the bottom of this article which contains the specific measurements, temperatures and cook times. However, continue reading below to learn about more helpful tips about this specific recipe.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 TBSP. Cajun seasoning
• 1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast
• 1/2 yellow or white onion, diced
• 1/4 lb. penne pasta (uncooked)
• 7.5 oz. fire roasted diced tomatoes (1/2 can, undrained)
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 oz. cream cheese
• 1 green onion, sliced

INSTRUCTIONS

Cut the chicken into 1/2 inch cubes. Place the pieces of chicken in a bowl or large resealable plastic bag and then pour the Cajun seasoning over top. Stir or toss to coat the chicken in the seasoning. Set aside.

Add the extra virgin olive oil into a medium size deep skillet then place the skillet over medium-high heat. Once the oil shimmers, add the seasoned chicken pieces to the pan. Brown the chicken on all sides (the chicken will not be cooked all the way through).

Add the diced onion to the skillet and then cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Once the onion begins to cook and releases its liquid, deglaze the bottom of the pan with a wooden spatula. You want to remove any stuck brown bits that may be in the skillet.

Add the pasta, undrained fire roasted diced tomatoes and chicken broth to the skillet and stir until combined.

Cover the skillet and then bring the mixture to a boil. Turn down the heat to medium-low and let the pasta cook until al dente consistency, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking (see package instructions for the amount of time this will take – usually about 9-11 minutes).

Tear the cream cheese in 4 small pieces. Then add it to the top of the mixture in the skillet and stir until the cream cheese melts. Stir until the sauce is uniform in color.

Once you are ready to serve, garnish the Cajun Chicken Pasta with sliced green onions and serve immediately.

Easy 30 Minute Meal

There you have it! An easy to make dinner that is perfect for a busy weeknight or a special occasion.

With just 30 minutes and one skillet, you will have a meal that tastes amazing and leaves you with minimal cleanup. With just one bite I am sure that this will become a new favorite!

Enjoy! Mary

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