Description
This One Pot Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta is a flavorful and hearty dish combining tender chicken cubes seasoned with a homemade Cajun spice blend, sautéed onions, penne pasta, and a creamy tomato sauce all cooked together in a single skillet for easy cleanup. Perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner with bold Cajun spices balanced by a rich creamy sauce.
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
Main Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 Tbsp butter
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1/2 to 3/4-inch cubes
- 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 the Cajun seasoning and chicken: In a small bowl, combine smoked paprika, oregano, thyme, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, black pepper, and salt to create the Cajun seasoning. Cut the chicken breasts into 1/2 to 3/4-inch cubes, place them in a bowl, then pour the Cajun seasoning over the chicken and stir well to coat all pieces evenly.
- Sear the chicken: Heat olive oil and butter in a large deep skillet over medium-high heat until the butter is melted and foamy. Add the seasoned chicken cubes to the skillet and cook for a few minutes on each side until the outside is nicely browned but the chicken is not fully cooked through.
- Sauté the onions: Add the diced yellow onion to the skillet with the chicken and sauté for about 2 minutes until the onion begins to soften. The moisture from the onions will help deglaze the pan and loosen any browned bits stuck to the bottom.
- Add pasta and liquids: Add the uncooked penne pasta, fire roasted diced tomatoes with their juices, and chicken broth to the skillet. Stir gently to combine all ingredients evenly. Cover with a lid and bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Simmer the pasta: Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low and let the pasta simmer uncovered for about 10 minutes, stirring every few minutes to prevent sticking, until the pasta is tender and most of the liquid has thickened into a sauce.
- Incorporate cream cheese and finish: Add the cream cheese in chunks to the skillet and stir continuously until it melts completely into the sauce making it creamy. Remove from heat, top the dish with sliced green onions, and serve immediately.
Notes
- You can adjust the cayenne pepper amount to control the heat level of the Cajun seasoning.
- For a richer sauce, feel free to add a splash of heavy cream or milk along with the cream cheese.
- Make sure to stir the pasta occasionally while simmering so it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan.
- Leftovers store well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheat quickly on the stovetop or microwave.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Cajun
Keywords: Cajun chicken pasta, one pot pasta, creamy Cajun chicken, easy weeknight dinner, skillet pasta recipe
