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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.
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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
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
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
Everybody in the family liked it ! I recommand it !
Hi Cam,
Awesome!! Thanks for giving the recipe a try, I love to hear that it was a hit!! xxT
Made this for the first time last night for dinner. My family loved it! Definitely will add this in our dinner rotation. Thank you!
Hey Sara,
Wonderful!! Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I am so glad to hear it was enjoyed!! ?xTieghan
Hi Tiegan, do you think this recipe would be ok if I omit the bell peppers?
Love all your recipes my family are so happy since I discovered your web page!
Hey Linda,
Yes, that would be just fine for you to do! Let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xTieghan
I finally gave this recipe a try and it turned out amazing! Even my son who is a tough critic and isn’t the biggest fan of pasta dishes gave it the thumbs up! I ended up including the bell peppers but I chopped them finely so that my son wouldn’t notice them as much. It was a great success. Thanks so much for creating this amazing web page and for all your recipes and stories!
Hey Linda,
Happy Sunday!! Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I love to hear that it was enjoyed!! xTieghan
Hi! Could you sun ricotta for the cream cheese? Thanks 🙂
Hey there,
Sure, that would be a great idea! Please let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xTieghan
Excellent recipe the whole family loved. Came together easily—awesome flavor. Will for SURE make again! Thank you!
Hi Cari,
Awesome!! Thanks a lot for trying this recipe out, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! xTieghan
Thank you!!! My husband loves it^^
Hey there,
Awesome!! Thanks a lot for trying this recipe out, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! xTieghan
Sounds delicious! Can I make the sauce an hour or two ahead of time and reheat before serving?
Hey Laura,
Sure, that will work well for you. Please let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xTieghan
Followed the recipe pretty much exactly and it was a hit! Omitted the red pepper flakes and used Kroger brand Cajun seasoning and the dish was toddler approved 🙂 I see comments saying the sauce doesn’t thicken but it did for me! Trust the process I think. It thickened more after I took it off the heat. If money or accessibility is an issue, the pasta is just as yummy without fresh basil.
Thanks for sharing this recipe! 🙂
Hey Hope,
Happy Friday! Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! xTieghan
This was so good! I added some andouille also.
Hi Julie,
Happy Sunday! So glad to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for making it! xTieghan
My family and I loved this pasta dish! So creamy without any heavy cream! I cooked it down for about 7 minutes and it was perfect; although had I followed the recipe as written and cooked it for 5 minutes, it would have been a little saucier which would be better for the leftovers…my bad. It makes a lot with 1 lb of pasta so I added some more chicken because I love leftovers. Will 100% make this again! Thanks for sharing another great recipe!
Hey Samantha,
Awesome! It’s so great to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for making it! Have the best weekend❄️ xTieghan
One of my favorite recipes to make. I can’t figure out how you get yours such a nice orange color. I’ve doubled the amount of Cajun seasoning and it still stays pretty bland colored. Any tips are welcome!
Hi Nicole,
Wonderful! It’s so great to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for making it! Typically the longer it sits, the darker it gets. xTieghan
Thanks so much for the tip! Making it again tonight, I’ll give that a shot 🙂 might try going a little heavier with the paprika too! Thanks for so many great recipes
So much great flavor! I doubled the cream cheese and added a half cup of buttermilk because I know my palate is a bit sensitive to spice. I will absolutely make this again.
Hey Em,
Wonderful!! Thanks a lot for making this recipe, I am so glad to hear it was enjoyed. Have a great Saturday! xTieghan
I’m always amazed how delicious this recipe is! It’s so simple. It’s one of my stepson’s favorite meals. We enjoyed it as an even larger family tonight. YUM!
Hey Katie,
Awesome!! I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a bunch for giving it a try! xTieghan
Was definitely an easy and fun dish!
I used a 1/2 cup of heavy cream instead of milk, and mixed in another 1/2 cup of chicken broth. I did let it simmer for about 10 minutes rather than 5. Sauce then came out as the perfect consistency!
Hey! Thank you so much for trying out this recipe, I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Happy Monday ? xTieghan
This was lunch today (lefovers for lunch tomorrow). Made it vegetarian and added more veggies (zucchini, spinach). It was delicious ! Will be added to our lunch rotation 🙂
Hey! Thanks SO much for trying out this recipe, I hope you loved it! xxTieghan