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Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta

A close-up of creamy cajun chicken pasta featuring penne noodles and seasoned chicken chunks, sprinkled with cheese.
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Make a rich, spicy Cajun chicken pasta that tastes like restaurant quality in under 30 minutes.

Ingredients

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  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust for spice level)
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 4 ounces cream cheese, cubed
  • 8 ounces penne or fettuccine pasta
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Season the chicken pieces with salt, pepper, paprika, oregano, basil, and cayenne pepper.
  2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned chicken and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove chicken and set aside.
  3. Add the chopped onion to the same skillet and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
  4. Sprinkle the flour over the onions and stir constantly for 1 minute to cook out the raw flour taste.
  5. Slowly whisk in the chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Bring the mixture to a simmer.
  6. Stir in the heavy cream and cubed cream cheese until the cheese melts and the sauce is smooth.
  7. Add the cooked chicken back to the skillet. Stir in the cooked pasta (cook pasta separately according to package directions, draining well).
  8. Stir in the Parmesan cheese until fully incorporated and the sauce thickens slightly.
  9. Serve immediately, garnished with fresh parsley.

Notes

  • For a one-pot method, add dry pasta and extra broth (about 1 cup more) to the sauce mixture and cook until the pasta is tender, stirring often.
  • If you prefer less spice, reduce the cayenne pepper to 1/4 teaspoon.
  • You can substitute shrimp for half of the chicken for a mixed seafood pasta.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://delishdreams.com/creamy-cajun-chicken-pasta-recipe/