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Creamy One-Pot Cajun Chicken Pasta

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A quick and easy one-pot Cajun chicken pasta with creamy sauce, bell peppers, and bold spices, perfect for a comforting dinner with minimal cleanup.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
  • 1 green bell pepper, thinly sliced
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 8 ounces penne or rigatoni pasta
  • 3 cups chicken broth (low sodium preferred)
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • A handful fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions

  1. Dice the onion, mince the garlic, slice the bell peppers, and cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces.
  2. In a bowl, toss the chicken pieces with 1 tablespoon of Cajun seasoning, a pinch of salt, and pepper. Set aside.
  3. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken pieces in a single layer and cook until browned but not fully cooked through, about 3-4 minutes per side. Remove chicken and set aside.
  4. In the same pan, add diced onion and bell peppers. Cook until softened and fragrant, about 4 minutes. Add minced garlic in the last 30 seconds to avoid burning.
  5. Pour in uncooked pasta, chicken broth, heavy cream, and remaining tablespoon of Cajun seasoning. Stir to combine, scraping any browned bits off the bottom.
  6. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Cover with lid and simmer until pasta is tender and most liquid is absorbed, about 12-15 minutes. Stir occasionally.
  7. Add the partially cooked chicken back into the pan. Stir and cook through as sauce thickens, about 5 minutes.
  8. Stir in grated Parmesan cheese until melted and creamy. Taste and adjust salt, pepper, or Cajun seasoning as needed.
  9. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and serve hot.

Notes

If sauce is too thick, add more broth or cream. If too thin, simmer uncovered longer. Stir regularly to prevent pasta from sticking. Use freshly grated Parmesan for best flavor. Adjust Cajun seasoning to taste. Frozen bell peppers can be used if added earlier in cooking.

Nutrition

Keywords: Cajun chicken pasta, one-pot pasta, creamy pasta, easy dinner, weeknight meal, Cajun seasoning, chicken recipe

Find it online: https://freshforkful.com/creamy-one-pot-cajun-chicken-pasta-recipe-easy-and-perfect-for-dinner/