Description
A quick, 30-minute weeknight dinner featuring tender chicken, pasta, and a rich Cajun-spiced cream sauce, all cooked in a single pot for easy cleanup.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 12 oz penne or rotini pasta
- 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 2–3 tablespoons Cajun seasoning (divided)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Prep ingredients: Cut chicken into cubes and season generously with Cajun seasoning. Dice onion and mince garlic.
- Sear chicken: Heat butter in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add chicken in a single layer (cook in batches if needed) and cook undisturbed for 3 minutes until golden. Flip and cook 2 more minutes until done. Remove chicken and set aside.
- Sauté aromatics: Reduce heat to medium. Add diced onion to the pot and cook for 2-3 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Build sauce: Pour in chicken broth and scrape up browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Add uncooked pasta and stir to combine.
- Simmer: Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is al dente and most liquid is absorbed.
- Finish: Stir in heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, and cooked chicken. Stir gently until cheese is melted and sauce is creamy. Adjust consistency with extra broth or milk if needed.
- Serve: Serve immediately topped with fresh parsley and extra Cajun seasoning if desired.
Notes
Use low-sodium broth to control saltiness as Cajun seasoning is salty. Scrape the bottom of the pot to incorporate flavor. Do not overcook chicken to keep it juicy. For a lighter version, use half-and-half and less cheese. For dairy-free, use coconut cream and nutritional yeast. For gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 20
- Saturated Fat: 11
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 28
Keywords: one pot dinner, creamy chicken pasta, cajun recipe, quick weeknight meals, easy pasta, family friendly dinner