Description
This One Pot Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta is a flavorful, comforting dish featuring tender chicken coated in homemade Cajun seasoning, simmered with penne pasta, fire roasted tomatoes, and a luscious creamy sauce all cooked in one skillet for easy cleanup and maximum taste.
Ingredients
Scale
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
- 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: Combine all Cajun seasoning ingredients in a small bowl. Cut the chicken into 1/2 to 3/4-inch cubes, place in a bowl, and toss with the Cajun seasoning until evenly coated.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat olive oil and butter in a large deep skillet over medium-high heat until very hot and butter is melted and foamy. Add the seasoned chicken cubes and cook for about 2 minutes on each side until the outside is browned but chicken is not fully cooked through.
- Sauté Onions: Add the diced yellow onion to the skillet with the chicken and sauté for about 2 minutes until the onion begins to soften, stirring occasionally to loosen any browned bits on the bottom.
- Add Pasta and Liquids: Stir in uncooked penne pasta, fire roasted diced tomatoes with their juices, and chicken broth until evenly combined. Cover the skillet with a lid and bring the broth to a boil.
- Simmer Pasta: Once boiling, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring every 2 minutes to prevent sticking, until pasta is tender and the liquid has thickened into a sauce.
- Melt Cream Cheese: Add cream cheese in chunks to the skillet and stir until fully melted and incorporated into the sauce to create creamy texture.
- Finish and Serve: Sprinkle sliced green onions over the pasta and serve immediately while hot.
Notes
- Use a 4-quart capacity deep skillet or similar sized pan to ensure enough room for ingredients and stirring.
- Adjust the heat as needed during simmering to maintain a gentle simmer and prevent burning.
- Stir frequently during simmering to stop pasta from sticking to the pan or clumping together.
- Substitute cream cheese with heavy cream or sour cream for a different creamy texture if desired.
- For extra heat, increase cayenne pepper or add chopped jalapeños to the seasoning.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 520 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 44 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg
