Easy Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta Recipe

This creamy cajun pasta with chicken isn't an average pasta recipe. It combines perfectly cooked cajun seasoned chicken breasts with buttery noodles and a rich, creamy cajun sauce that's to die for. And, best of all, it's super quick and easy to make. In fact, this creamy cajun chicken pasta recipe is ready in just 20 minutes!

Why I Love This Cajun Chicken Pasta

This cajun chicken pasta is just absolutely loaded with flavor. As I mentioned, it features meaty juicy chicken breasts, aromatic cajun spices, tender noodles, and a rich cream sauce that'll keep you coming back for more bite after bite.

And what's even better than how this pasta tastes is how easy it is to make. This entire recipe comes together in just a few simple steps, and cleanup is a breeze. That's why it's one of my go-to meals to make on busy weeknights! 

Another plus is that most of the time spent making this creamy cajun chicken pasta recipe is super passive, so I always have time to work on sides. One of my go-to sides to make are these copycat Texas Roadhouse rolls. They're just so delicious dipped in that flavorful, creamy cajun sauce!

Ingredients

Another reason to love this cajun pasta recipe with chicken is that it's made almost entirely with simple ingredients. Honestly, you probably have most - if not all - of them waiting for you in your kitchen right now!

Anyway, here's what you'll need to make the pasta:

• 6oz. linguine pasta
• 2 Medium chicken breasts
• 2 teaspoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 ½ tablespoon Cajun seasoning
• 1 teaspoon garlic paste
• ½ cup diced tomatoes
• 1 cup heavy cream
• ⅓ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• Chopped parsley for garnish
• Salt and pepper, to taste

See, super simple, right?

By the way, if you have extra noodles after making this recipe, then you should definitely put 'em to good use and make these parmesan noodles as well.

Ingredient Substitutions And Suggestions

Now I like to make this recipe with the ingredients listed above because I think it tastes best that way. That said, there's room to modify this recipe to make it a little different each time.

When it comes to the cajun sauce, you can leave it as is or play around with adding some ingredients. I recommend adding a little cayenne pepper if you like your sauce to be on the spicier side. You can also add some cream cheese for a thicker sauce or swap the heavy cream for chicken broth for a thinner sauce.

This cajun pasta recipe calls for fresh tomatoes, but you can use fresh or canned tomatoes. I've even tried this recipe with fire-roasted diced tomatoes, which adds a delicious flavor, so you can use those too.

If you really want to ramp up the flavor of this dish, you can add additional ingredients. Sometimes I like to add some andouille sausage, sliced bell pepper, or even just a garnish of diced green onions. Keep in mind if you do add bell peppers, then you'll want to sauté those with the garlic paste until tender.

How To Make Cajun Chicken Pasta

I mean it when I say this cajun pasta recipe is so, so simple to make. In just 3 easy-to-do steps and 20 minutes, you can have a restaurant-worthy meal on the table for dinner! 

So with that said, let's stop wasting time and get cooking!

Step 1: Cook The Pasta

First things first, you'll want to cook the pasta according to the package instructions.

Just make sure that when you strain the noodles, you reserve a ¼ cup of the pasta water. You'll use the pasta water later on to help thicken your creamy sauce.

Step 2: Cook The Chicken

While the pasta is cooking, you can prepare the chicken.

So, to do that, the first thing you'll want to do is beat the chicken breasts with a mallet to tenderize 'em and make 'em both the same thickness. Then, once the chicken is well tenderized, you'll want to season it with a tablespoon of the cajun seasoning to give this dish its signature flavor.

Next, you're going to take out a large skillet and set it over medium-high heat and add some oil to it. Once the oil is hot, you can cook the seasoned chicken breasts until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. When the chicken is fully cooked, you can set it aside and let it rest for 5 minutes before cutting it into strips.

Step 3: Build The Sauce

Now in the same skillet that you cooked the chicken in, you'll want to add the garlic paste and butter. Let these two things cook and mix until the butter melts and the garlic is fragrant. Then, when that happens, you can add the diced tomatoes to the skillet and cook everything for another 2 minutes. After that, you'll want to add the heavy cream, remaining cajun seasoning, and parmesan cheese to the skillet and give everything a good mix.

Finally, the last thing you'll want to do in this step is everything simmer so that it can thicken. Then, you can taste the sauce, and add some salt and pepper if you think it needs it. 

Step 4: Serve The Cajun Chicken Pasta

Once your sauce is thickened and well combined, you can add the cooked pasta to it and stir it until it's thoroughly coated in the cajun sauce.

Then, after you've taken care of that, you can serve your pasta warm, top it with your sliced chicken, and garnish it with some chopped parsley and grated parmesan cheese.

Enjoy!

One Pot Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta Recipe FAQS

Can I use a different type of pasta for this recipe? 

Yes! This recipe is amazing with all kinds of pasta. I've made it with penne and fettuccine before, but elbow macaroni noodles, classic spaghetti, or any gluten-free pasta will be great. Just adjust the cooking time as needed.

Can I substitute the heavy cream in the sauce? 

I think the heavy cream is what makes the sauce so creamy, but you can definitely substitute it if you want. Half and half actually works well, or you could use your preferred non-dairy cream, like coconut cream. 

How can I make this dish spicier or less spicy?

If you want to make it spicier, I suggest adding some extra cajun seasoning or a dash of cayenne pepper. To take away some of the spice, I suggest making your own cajun seasoning so you can control how much of each spice you use. 

How do you store leftover cajun chicken pasta?

Transfer the pasta to an airtight container and store it in the fridge for about 3-4 days. To keep for longer, just transfer it to an airtight container - or freezer-safe bag- and then you can store it in your freezer for up to 3 months.

How do you reheat the leftover pasta?

I like to simply transfer the leftovers back to a skillet over medium heat and let them cook for about 5-10 minutes until hot. Make sure to give the pasta a stir as it reheats. For a quicker reheating method, I'll microwave the leftovers in two 30-second intervals, stopping to stir between.

More Pasta Recipes

If you're in the mood for more equally delicious pasta recipes, then we've got you covered!

Give one of these easy pasta recipes a try next:

• Crack chicken pasta
• Spinach pasta
• Chicken pesto pasta
• Shrimp pasta
• Salmon pasta