Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta Recipe | A 30-Minute, Easy Pasta Recipe! (2024)

This creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta recipe is one of our favorite restaurant style dishes to make at home in just 30 minutes! It’s bursting with flavor, thanks to a combination of tender, Cajun-spiced chicken and a rich, cheesy sauce.

Table of Contents

• Why You’ll Love This Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta Recipe
• What You Will Need
• How to Make Cajun Chicken Pasta
• Chef’s Tips and Variations
• What to Serve with Cajun Pasta
• Get the Recipe
• More Easy Must-Try Pasta Recipes

Why You’ll Love This Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta Recipe

Cajun Chicken Pasta is one of my husband’s favorite dishes to order when we go out to eat. It took me a while, but I finally nailed making it at home! Here’s why you will love this recipe:

• Restaurant Quality at Home: I make this sauce with a combination of heavy cream, parmesan cheese, and cream cheese. This creates a luxuriously creamy, cheesy sauce that perfectly complements the spicy chicken.
• Quick and Easy: Ready in just 30 minutes with simple inexpensive ingredients, this creamy Cajun chicken pasta recipe is perfect for busy weeknights.
• Flavor Explosion: The Cajun spices provide a warm, spicy kick to the tender, seasoned chicken that’s irresistible.
• Versatile Protein Options: Works great with chicken, but you can also swap in shrimp or sausage depending on what you’re craving.

My family is from Louisiana and many of my dishes are inspired by all those classic Cajun flavors. Make sure to try my copycat Cajun jambalaya pasta, easy Cajun shrimp pasta, or this flavorful Cajun chicken Alfredo!

What You Will Need

This creamy Cajun chicken pasta recipe calls for simple, flavorful ingredients… Most of which you likely already have on hand. Here’s what you’ll need along with some handy swap suggestions. Scroll down to the recipe card for exact amounts.

• Pasta: I used penne pasta, but you can use whatever kind you like. (Bow-tie, spaghetti, etc.)
• Butter and Oil: A combination of butter and olive oil will create the best sauce.
• Onion: I used a white onion, but a sweet yellow onion is a good swap.
• Bell Pepper: I used a red bell pepper for a pop of color, but an orange or yellow bell pepper will work just as well. You can also use a green bell pepper, but keep in mind they have a stronger, less sweet flavor.
• Garlic: Use freshly minced garlic for the most flavor. In a pinch, you can swap this for garlic powder.
• Seasonings: Use Cajun seasoning, dried basil, paprika powder, cayenne pepper, freshly ground black pepper and salt.
• Chicken: Use boneless, skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs, cut into bite size pieces.
• Cheese: Freshly shredded parmesan cheese is best. Read note in tips section below for why.
• Heavy Cream: Half-and-half or evaporated milk will also work, but your sauce will be less creamy.
• Cream Cheese: Let it come to room temperature before starting.
• Chicken Broth: You can use regular or reduced sodium, whichever you prefer.

How to Make Cajun Chicken Pasta

This Cajun chicken pasta is that it will have your kitchen smelling AMAZING, attracting everyone to the kitchen before you call them for dinner! Scroll to the recipe card at bottom of the post for full detailed instructions.

• Cook the Pasta: Cook the pasta until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water, set aside.
• Add Veggies and Seasonings: While the pasta is cooking, sauté the onions and bell pepper in butter and olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the garlic, Cajun seasoning, basil, paprika, cayenne, salt and pepper. Cook for 3 more minutes.
• Cook the Chicken: Add the chicken and stir and cook for 8 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through.
• Make the Sauce: Add the parmesan, heavy cream, cream cheese and chicken broth. Stir and cook until the sauce starts to thicken.
• Combine and Serve: Add the cooked and drained pasta and stir to coat pasta with sauce. Serve with freshly chopped parsley on top, if desired.

Chef’s Tips and Variations

• Use Fresh Cheese:Do not use the green shaker can style parmesan cheese that does not need refrigeration. This type of cheese is coated in anti-caking agents that work as a thickener in sauces. It can also turn our sauce grainy!
• Cayenne Pepper: If you like heat, start by adding 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper and taste the sauce. Remember you can always add more cayenne pepper, but you can’t take it out!
• Add Shrimp: You can add peeled and deveined raw shrimp to the sauce while you are cooking the sauce to thicken. The shrimp will cook in that same amount of time, about 8 to 10 minutes. Continue with the rest of the recipe as directed!
• Add Tomatoes: I tested this recipe with and without tomatoes, we liked both, but decided we liked it better without. If you want to add tomatoes, stir in a can of diced tomatoes (well drained) when you add the bell pepper.

What to Serve with Cajun Pasta

Filling enough on its own, a few small sides are more than enough to round out your dinner table! Here are some tasty pairing ideas to go with this creamy Cajun pasta:

• Bread: Slices of warm crusty bread are a must with any pasta recipe – you don’t want to let any of that cheesy sauce go to waste! We prefer garlic bread or even a slice of beer bread, but any warm crusty bread will do!
• Salad: Try a light green salad with a vinaigrette, like this easy Greek salad, for an easy side.
• Vegetables: Parmesan roasted broccoli, easy roasted mushrooms or sautéed green beans would all be tasty on the side.

Post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.