Cajun Chicken Pasta
A spicy, creamy pasta dish with tender, Cajun-seasoned chicken and a luscious, tomato-infused sauce.
Servings: 4 people
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts diced into bite size pieces
- 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning or more to taste (recipe note #1)
- 8 ounces penne pasta or other short pasta
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 large garlic cloves finely chopped
- 1 14 1/2-ounce can fire roasted diced tomatoes with liquid
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 2 ounces grated parmesan cheese about 2/3 cup, plus more for garnish
- chopped fresh parsley for garnish, optional
Instructions
- Combine diced chicken and Cajun seasoning in a medium bowl and toss to coat. Set aside.
- In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook penne according to package directions until firm to the bite (al dente). Drain, reserving 1 cup of pasta water.
- While the pasta cooks, heat butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until sizzling. Add garlic, then cook and stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add chicken and cook and stir until just cooked through, 4 to 5 minutes; transfer to a clean plate with a slotted spoon.
- Add tomatoes with liquid to same skillet and bring to boil; cook and stir until liquid is reduced by half, 2-3 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low and stir in heavy cream and parmesan cheese; bring to simmer. Cook and stir 3 minutes, or until cheese has melted and sauce thickens.
- Add drained, cooked pasta, chicken and any accumulated juices to skillet; cook and stir until heated through and sauce has thickened to your desired consistency. Or, for a thinner sauce, add reserved pasta water a little at a time as desired. Taste for seasoning and add more Cajun seasoning if needed. Transfer to serving platter or individual pasta bowls and garnish with parmesan and parsley (optional); serve hot.
Video
Notes
- The amount of salt in Cajun seasoning varies widely by brand, so start out with a bit less than the recipe calls for and add more taste. If you're using a salt-free seasoning (my preference), add 2 teaspoons of seasoning and ~1/4 teaspoon of fine sea salt. Then add more of each to taste.
Nutrition
Calories: 564kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 126mg | Sodium: 415mg | Potassium: 647mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1545IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 170mg | Iron: 2mg
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