Description
This Lighter Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta recipe is a flavorful and satisfying dish with a creamy Cajun-spiced sauce that coats tender chicken and pasta. Perfect for a quick and delicious weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Pasta:
- 1 lb short-cut pasta
Chicken:
- 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 lb chicken tenders, cut into bite-size pieces
- 1 tablespoon cajun seasoning
- kosher salt and black pepper
Sauce:
- 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 oz cream cheese, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh basil
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta al dente, according to package directions. Drain.
- Cook Chicken: In the same pot over medium-high heat, cook onion, chicken, and cajun seasoning in olive oil until browned. Set chicken aside.
- Make Sauce: In the pot, cook bell peppers and garlic in olive oil. Add cajun seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Pour in broth and milk. Whisk in cream cheese until smooth. Simmer until slightly thickened.
- Finish Dish: Stir in parmesan, then add pasta and chicken. Cook briefly, then remove from heat and stir in basil. Serve topped with more basil.
Notes
- You can adjust the level of cajun seasoning and red pepper flakes to suit your spice preference.
- For added creaminess, you can stir in a bit more cream cheese or a splash of heavy cream.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
