Cajun Chicken Pasta

Cajun Chicken Pasta is a one-pot pasta dish with a creamy, spicy sauce filled with veggies and chicken. A healthy, easy dish for weeknights

Happy almost Mardi Gras!

On the off chance that you aren't yelling at masked revelers for trinkets in the next few days, I thought I'd share a few recipes to help you celebrate anyway.

In fact, I have tons of Mardi Gras recipes you'll probably love like

• Mardi Gras Smoothies
• Mini King Cakes
• Boozy Cupcakes
• King Cake Smoothies
• Mardi Gras Tacos
• Bananas Foster Toast
• Mardi Gras Cauliflower Rice
• Red Beans and Rice

However, even if you could care less about Mardi Gras, you should care about this pasta.

It's got tons of veggies (and they're even Mardi Gras colored ones at that!) plus cheese and whole grains.

This Cajun Chicken Pasta is a delightful {almost} one-pot meal. It's not 100% one pot because you'll need an extra pot to cook the pasta, but that's it.

What's great about this creamy pasta dish is that it is very adaptable to what you have on hand.

You can use any color bell peppers or onions. Any type of pasta will work.

Plus, it's very easy to make and oh so flavorful.

How to Make Cajun Chicken Pasta

1. Start by cooking the chicken in the skillet. Then transfer to a plate.
2. Sauté the veggies in the skillet and transfer those to the plate.
3. Next sauté the mushrooms.
4. Meanwhile, cook the pasta. (You can also use leftover cooked pasta).
5. Add the chicken and veggies bake to the skillet, and add the milk and cheese to make a sauce.
6. Then add the pasta and toss to coat.
7. Enjoy!

While there are a few steps, they are all pretty straight-forward and simple.

And you'll be so happy with the results! Plus, this makes a lot so everyone is satisfied.

Cajun Chicken Pasta

Cajun Chicken Pasta is a one-pot pasta dish with a creamy, spicy sauce filled with veggies and chicken

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Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

Servings: 4

Author: Meme

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 teaspoon oil avocado, olive, or canola oil
• ▢ 1 lb. chicken breast or tenders
• ▢ 1-½ teaspoon no-salt added Cajun seasoning divided
• ▢ ¾ teaspoon salt divided
• ▢ 1 large onion chopped
• ▢ 2 medium bell peppers chopped
• ▢ 16 oz. mushrooms sliced
• ▢ 1 tablespoon butter
• ▢ 2 cloves garlic minced
• ▢ 6 oz. dried pasta
• ▢ ⅔ cup milk 2% or whole
• ▢ 3 tablespoon cream cheese
• ▢ 1 oz. ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, shredded
• ▢ 1 lemon optional
• ▢ 2 green onions chopped {optional}

Instructions

• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle ½ teaspoon Cajun seasoning and ¼ teaspoon salt over both sides of chicken. Add chicken to skillet and cook until browned on both sides {about 5 minutes per side}. Transfer chicken to a plate; set aside.
• Add onions, bell peppers, and ½ teaspoon Cajun seasoning to skillet, and cook until tender, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Transfer to the plate with chicken.
• Add mushrooms & butter to pan, and cook until mushrooms release their juices, about 7 minutes. Stir occasionally.
• Meanwhile, bring a pot of water to a boil. Add pasta and cook. Drain and set aside.
• Once mushrooms are cooked, add garlic to skillet. Stir for 30 seconds, then add reserved chicken, onions, bell peppers, remaining ½ teaspoon salt, and remaining ½ teaspoon Cajun seasoning. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Reduce heat to medium, and stir in milk, cream cheese, and Parmesan cheese. Be sure to scrape up any bits that have gotten stuck to the bottom of the pan. {Your sauce will probably turn a creamish-brown color; this is good}.
• Let sauce boil for about 2 minutes, stirring often. Add in cooked & drained pasta. Stir well to coat, and serve with some lemon wedges and green onions if desired.

Notes

*You could use 1 lb. shrimp in place of the chicken but the cooking time will be a lot shorter {in the first step, cook for less than 2 minutes per side}

*Any pasta works in this recipe - I've used penne, gluten-free shells, and spaghetti. All were great

*Use any color bell peppers. Any combination works.

*If you don't have salt-free Cajun seasoning, omit the salt.

*You don't have to use butter but it makes it really creamy & delicious. Omit it if you'd like. 

What to Use in This Recipe

Skillet

Spoon

Saucepan

Did you try this recipe?Be sure to leave a comment & recipe rating below. Bonus points for tagging @memeinge & #livingwellkitchen on Instagram! THANK YOU! xo

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Meme