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Creamy cajun chicken pasta with golden seared chicken and rich cream sauce in cast iron skillet. Easy 30 minute spicy comfort food recipe with penne pasta and cajun seasonings.

Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta

Spicy seared chicken pieces with penne pasta in rich cajun cream sauce finished with fresh herbs. This restaurant-style creamy cajun chicken pasta delivers bold Southern flavors with simple one-skillet preparation in just 30 minutes.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine: American, Cajun
Calories: 565
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1.5 lbs Boneless chicken breast Cut into large chunks
  • 12 oz Penne pasta For holding sauce well
  • 1 cup Heavy cream For rich sauce base
  • 2 tablespoon Cajun seasoning Store bought or homemade blend
  • 4 cloves Garlic Minced fresh
  • 1 medium Yellow onion Diced
  • 1 medium Bell pepper Any color, diced
  • 1 cup Chicken broth Low sodium preferred
  • 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese Freshly grated
  • 3 tablespoon Olive oil For searing chicken
  • 2 tablespoon Butter For richness
  • 0.25 cup Fresh parsley Chopped for garnish
  • 1 teaspoon Salt For seasoning
  • 0.5 teaspoon Black pepper Freshly ground

Equipment

  • 1 Large cast iron skillet For even cooking and sauce development
  • 1 Sharp knife For cutting chicken uniformly
  • 1 Cutting board For safe food preparation
  • 1 Large pot For boiling pasta
  • 1 Wooden spoon For stirring pasta and sauce
  • 1 Fine grater For fresh parmesan cheese
  • 1 Measuring cups For accurate liquids
  • 1 Colander For draining pasta

Method
 

  1. Cut chicken into large chunks, season generously with cajun seasoning, salt, pepper
  2. Heat oil in cast iron skillet, sear chicken 4 to 5 minutes until golden brown
  3. Transfer chicken to plate, leaving drippings in pan
  4. Add butter, onion, bell pepper to skillet, cook 3 to 4 minutes
  5. Add minced garlic, cook 1 minute until fragrant
  6. Meanwhile, cook penne according to package directions until al dente
  7. Add chicken broth to skillet, scraping up browned bits
  8. Pour in heavy cream, stir to combine with vegetables
  9. Add seared chicken back with any juices
  10. Drain pasta, add to skillet with cream sauce
  11. Toss everything together until pasta is completely coated
  12. Stir in fresh parmesan cheese until melted
  13. Top with fresh chopped parsley and black pepper
  14. Serve immediately while hot and creamy

Notes

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.