Description
This One Pot Cajun Chicken Pasta is the ultimate easy weeknight dinner! Tender Cajun-seasoned chicken, colorful bell peppers, penne pasta, and Parmesan cheese are cooked together in one pot with a rich, creamy sauce for a comforting meal that’s ready in just 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1½ tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1½ tablespoons Cajun seasoning, divided
- 1 medium red bell pepper, sliced
- 1 medium yellow bell pepper, sliced
- 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 (14.5-ounce) cans low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 (14.5-ounce) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes
- ¾ cup heavy cream, divided
- 12 ounces penne pasta
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon water
- ¾ cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese
- 3 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat.
- Toss the chicken with ½ tablespoon Cajun seasoning and cook for about 3 minutes per side until browned and cooked through. Remove and keep warm.
- Add the remaining olive oil to the same pot. Cook the bell peppers and onion for 3 minutes.
- Stir in the garlic and remaining Cajun seasoning. Cook for 1 minute.
- Pour in the chicken broth, fire-roasted tomatoes, and ½ cup heavy cream. Bring to a boil.
- Stir in the penne pasta and cook for 12–13 minutes, stirring frequently, until nearly tender.
- Mix the cornstarch with the water and stir it into the pasta. Cook for another minute until the sauce thickens.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the remaining heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, parsley, and cooked chicken.
- Season with salt and black pepper to taste, then serve warm.
Notes
- Adjust the Cajun seasoning to make the dish milder or spicier.
- Freshly grated Parmesan melts more smoothly than pre-shredded cheese.
- Stir the pasta often to keep it from sticking.
- Add a splash of chicken broth or cream if the sauce becomes too thick.
- Leftovers keep well for up to 4 days in the refrigerator.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: One Pot / Stovetop
- Cuisine: Cajun-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 585 Kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 760 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 47 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 125 mg