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This simple Lighter Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta is made in 30 minutes and uses just one pot. It’s the perfect quick-cooking pasta that’s great for both busy weeknights and laid-back weekends too. Every bite is layered with spicy flavor, bell peppers, crispy chicken, the absolute best creamy parmesan sauce (made on the lighter side), and finished with fresh basil.
If there was one pasta to make this week, this is it. Hands downs, one of my favorites. And for two reasons. First, this is so, so, so easy to make. Simply boil the pasta, sear the chicken, make the sauce, and toss!.
Simple, simple.
And second? There is so much flavor. Mostly thanks to a good spoonful of my homemade cajun seasoning blend…it’s delicious.
And really all I have to say is that I wish I would have put this one together sooner, it’s soo delicious and so easy. A great new addition to your recipe rotation!
The Process
As you might guess, this is pretty simple and straightforward. But I gave it some get-up-and-go with the addition of my cajun seasoning blend.
Start with the pasta. For this particular recipe, I like to boil and drain the pasta first.
While the pasta is boiling, start prepping. Chop the chicken, prep the bell peppers, and grab some herbs. The idea is that by the time the pasta is finished boiling, all the other prep work will be complete.
Once you drain the pasta, move on to the chicken. Toss it with a little cajun seasoning, then cook it until it’s just crisp.
Now that sauce…
First, you’ll need to cook up some onions, peppers, garlic, herbs, and a touch more cajun seasoning. Then add a splash of chicken broth, milk, and plenty of parmesan. Next comes the ingredient that keeps the sauce creamy without adding any additional cream or butter…the tiniest amount of cream cheese.
I know cream cheese isn’t typical, but I swear it creates a silky smooth sauce every time. And a little goes a long way. Trust me, it really does the trick!
Once the sauce comes together, toss in the pasta, and add the chicken back in. And that’s it! Top with additional parmesan and lots of fresh basil and thyme.
Yummm!
This recipe is all about the sauce and that spicy cajun chicken. The sauce is slightly spicy, herby, and ever so creamy. It’s my favorite combo. And the chicken? It’s a game-changer, tender and delicious, and just perfectly seasoned and spicy! SO GOOD in this creamy pasta.
This is the perfect dish for livening up an average Wednesday night. Or maybe save it for a Friday night. Either way, everyone loves this simple, creamy pasta!
Looking for other quick pasta recipes? Here are a few…
Jammy Cherry Tomato Pasta with Crisp Lemon Rosemary Chickpeas
Southern Style Creamy Parmesan Chicken Pasta
20 Minute Lemon Butter Pasta with Ricotta and Spicy Breadcrumbs
Lastly, if you make this Lighter Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Lighter Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 467 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 1 pound short-cut pasta
- 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 pound chicken tenders, cut into bite size pieces
- 1 tablespoon, plus 1-2 teaspoons cajun seasoning
- kosher salt and black pepper
- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
- 2 bell peppers, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped or grated
- crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 cup low sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup milk
- 2 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
Instructions
- 1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta al dente, according to package directions. Drain.2. In the same pot set over medium-high heat, add 2 tablespoons olive oil, the onion, chicken, and 1 tablespoon cajun seasoning. Cook until browned all over, about 5 minutes. Spoon the chicken onto a plate.3. To the pot, add 2 tablespoons olive oil, the bell peppers, and garlic. Cook another 5 minutes until the peppers are soft. Stir in 1-2 teaspoons cajun seasoning. Add a pinch each of red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Cook another minute, until the spices are fragrant, then pour in the broth and milk. Add the cream cheese. Whisk until smooth. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer and cook 5 minutes, until thickened slightly.4. Stir in the parmesan. Then toss in the pasta and chicken and cook 2-3 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the basil. Serve immediately topped with additional basil. Enjoy!
Notes
Homemade Cajun Seasoning: mix 2 1/2 tablespoons smoked paprika, 2 tablespoons garlic powder, 1 tablespoon onion powder, 1 tablespoon dried oregano, 1 tablespoon dried thyme, 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper, 1 1/2 tablespoons kosher salt, and 1 tablespoon black pepper. Makes 3/4 cup.
Fabulous and so easy!!! I did make some alterations. There are only two of us eating; so I only used 1/2 pound pasta, (rotini). I also used half the chicken and half pound Andouille which really added a nice creole flavor. I cooked out the chicken and added the sliced andouille to the cooking chicken in the last minute of cooking.
I have a new favorite recipe!!! I have two grown daughters and we share our favorite recipes from the year at Christmas. I have found the one I’m going to share!!!
Hey Claire,
Happy Wednesday! Love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for giving it a try! xTieghan
Fixed this tonight, my adult son and husband really like it and so do I. Might put in diced tomatoes also next time, that might be good. I used green bell peppers and realized from the pictures the recipe was probably red bell peppers, a little sweeter. All in all we will definitely fix it again! The basil adds the perfect touch!
Hey Susan,
Fantastic! I am thrilled that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for giving it a go! xTieghan
Do you think this could be frozen? I love it and it’s a big batch I would love to enjoy later or take to my mom who is out of town
Hey Ellen,
Sure, I don’t see why not! I hope you love the recipe! xTieghan
Hi can you use a cheddar cheese instead of parm? Looking to make this tomorrow 🙂
Hey Nicola,
Sure, that will work! I hope you love there recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
This is so yummy, I was pleasantly surprised. Love these recipes. Going to buy the cookbook/s if there is more than one, I will buy them all ?
Hey Beth,
Happy Sunday! I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a bunch for making it! xxTieghan
Love! My man just keeps looking at me and nodding his head. This is a keeper!
Definitely recommend a Cajun seasoning with allspice & mace.
Hey Liz,
Thanks so much for making this recipe, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! Have a great week:) xTieghan
This was delicious and easy to make. I subbed shrimp for the chicken, but otherwise followed the recipe exactly. Loved the Cajun seasoning and yummy sauce. Definitely a keeper!
Hey Peggy,
Awesome!! I am delighted to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a bunch for making it! xxTieghan
Delicious! The only thing I might change is to sauté peppers and onions with chicken (as opposed to chicken with onions and then peppers after you take them out) and then make sauce in the pan, without any veggies in the pan. When it came time to whisk in the cream cheese, I couldn’t get it smooth enough because the peppers were in the way.
It was so so good! We loved it!
Hey Lizzie,
Awesome! It is so great to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for giving it a go! xTieghan
Amazing recipe – super easy. Will definitely make again.
Hey Vivek,
I am delighted that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for making it! xxTieghan
This looks great! Do you think it could be made in advance?
Hey Amanda,
Thanks! Sure you could make and then reheat on the stove top when you are ready to serve. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Thank you so much for this recipe! I was a bit hesitant as I wasn’t sure what Cajun spice would taste like and I have the fussiest family in the world. It was really simple to make and turned out perfectly! My critical kids even loved it (and they don’t like much aside from kfc and McDonald’s and pizza ???
I love your cooking, never tried anything I didn’t like. We absolutely have the same taste! Thanks for yet another winner Tieghan! ❤️❤️❤️?
Hey Deb,
Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I am so glad it was enjoyed! Have a wonderful weekend:) xTieghan
This was very good!! I loved the spicy kick to it, but I wish it turned out a little creamier. What can I add to make this creamier? Since I have so much extra cajun seasoning mix, I plan on making this again next week… My husband doesn’t like the same recipe 2 weeks in a row, so I’ll give him a break.
Hey Samantha,
Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I am so glad it was enjoyed! Try this recipe for a more creamy result: https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/parmesan-chicken-pasta/
Have a wonderful weekend:) xTieghan
I really wanted this recipe to turn out, but it didn’t work for me. The bottom of my pan burned while taking out the chicken, and then the minced garlic also burned while cooking with the peppers. I read and reread the recipe and followed it exactly.
Hey Katelyn,
So sorry to hear this, unfortunately it sounds like your pan was too hot. Let me know how I can help for next time! xTieghan
This is delicious! My husband said it was one of the best dishes he ever had! It has the perfect amount of heat and spice. I would about 1/3 pound more chicken since there was lots of pasta. This would be delicious with shrimp too! This is a keeper!!
Hey Mona,
Happy Sunday! I am thrilled that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for giving it a try! xTieghan
Really tasty and easy recipe! my bf who always finds something to improve, didn’t find a thing here 🙂
Hey Angela,
Happy Friday! I am so glad that you enjoyed this recipe, thanks so much for giving it a try! xxTieghan