Easy Cajun Chicken Pasta

This Cajun Chicken Pasta is a dinner winner with it’s creamy cajun sauce and bites of tender pasta and chicken. It’s one of the easiest dinners, ready in less than 30 minutes.

There’s few things I love more than 30-minute meals!  This cajun pasta is quick, easy, and completely customizable!  Serve it with Homemade Breadsticks, Rolls, a Salad, or a side of Roasted Vegetables.

What I LOVE about this recipe:

• 30 minute meal
• Customizable:  Choose your pasta and veggies, and make it healthier if you want to! I share all of my ideas below in the post.
• Easy to make healthier (see ideas below).

How to Make Cajun Chicken Pasta:

1. Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain, rinse with cold water and set aside.

2. Cook chicken and veggies.  In skillet, melt the butter, add garlic and cook for about 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the chicken pieces (and any desired vegetables) and season with cajun seasoning. Cook for 3-4 minutes, until chicken is nearly cooked through.

3. Finish sauce.  Add the milk and cream cheese, stirring well until cream cheese has melted and sauce is smooth, 2-3 minutes.

4. Add pasta and cheese. Stir together and season with salt and pepper if needed. 

Adjust the Spice Level:

The spice in this cajun chicken pasta recipe is solely attributed to the cajun seasoning.  The recipe calls for 2 teaspoons, which gives it a mild to medium spicy flavor.  Add more for spicier pasta, add only 1 teaspoon for mild.

Choose your pasta:

I used farfalle (bowtie) pasta but you can substitute 8 oz of your favorite pasta, like penne, shells,  rotini, linguine, etc.

For Healthier Cajun Chicken Pasta:

• Substitute whole grain pasta
• Add veggies: Add any vegetables you’d like to use up from your refrigerator including but not limited to, sliced bell peppers, spinach, asparagus, mushrooms, zucchini, broccoli etc.
• Substitute olive oil for the butter or cut the butter amount in half.
• Use low fat cream cheese
• Use skim milk
• Omit the parmesan cheese

Make Ahead Instructions:

• To make this cajun chicken pasta ahead of time, prep steps 2-4 of the recipe (make the creamy sauce with cooked vegetables and chicken).  Allow it to cool and store in the refrigerator.  When ready to serve, cook noodles, reheat sauce and stir in pasta and cheese.

More 30 Minute Meals:

• Penne Arrabbiata
• Shrimp Scampi
• Beef Stroganoff
• Drunken Noodles
• Hawaiian Haystacks

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Cajun Chicken Alfredo Pasta

This Cajun Chicken Pasta is a dinner winner with it's creamy cajun sauce and bites of tender pasta and chicken. It's one of the easiest dinners, ready in less than 30 minutes.

4.96 from 22 votes

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Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Servings: 4

Calories: 661kcal

Author: Lauren Allen

Video

Ingredients

• 8 ounces farfalle pasta (or your favorite type)8 ounces farfalle pasta (or your favorite type)
• 2 Tablespoons butter2 Tablespoons butter
• 3 cloves garlic , minced3 cloves garlic , minced
• 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 2 breasts), cut into bite-size pieces1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 2 breasts), cut into bite-size pieces
• 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning , more or less, to taste 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning , more or less, to taste
• 4 ounces cream cheese , softened and cut into small pieces4 ounces cream cheese , softened and cut into small pieces
• 1 cup milk1 cup milk
• 3/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese3/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon salt , more to taste, if needed1/2 teaspoon salt , more to taste, if needed
• Fresh vegetables, if desired , see note*Fresh vegetables, if desired , see note*

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

• Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain, rinse with cold water and set aside.
• In a large pot or skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
• Add the chicken pieces (and any desired vegetables*) and season with cajun seasoning. Cook for 3-4 minutes, until chicken is nearly cooked through.
• Add the milk and cream cheese, stirring well until cream cheese has melted and sauce is smooth, 2-3 minutes. 
• Stir in pasta, parmesan cheese, salt and pepper. Serve immediately.

Notes

*Vegetables: I often like to add vegetables to the pasta that need to be used from my fridge. A more authentic cajun dish would include sliced bell peppers. Other good additions would be spinach, broccoli, asparagus, zucchini or mushrooms.

Otherwise this is the perfect pasta to serve with a side of Roasted vegetables.

For Healthier Cajun Chicken Pasta:

• Substitute whole grain pasta
• Add veggies: Add any vegetables you'd like to use up from your refrigerate including but not limited to, sliced bell peppers, spinach, asparagus, mushrooms, zucchini, etc.
• Substitute olive oil for butter or cut the butter amount in half.
• Use low fat cream cheese
• Use skim milk
• Omit the parmesan cheese

Make Ahead Instructions: Prepare steps 2-4 of the recipe (make the creamy sauce with cooked vegetables and chicken).  Allow it to cool and store in the refrigerator.  When ready to serve, cook noodles, reheat sauce and add pasta and cheese to sauce.

Nutrition

Calories: 661kcal | Carbohydrates: 58g | Protein: 46g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Cholesterol: 141mg | Sodium: 930mg | Potassium: 1178mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 1800IU | Vitamin C: 137.6mg | Calcium: 398mg | Iron: 2.5mg

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I originally shared this recipe December 2014. Updated April 2020 with process photos, a video, and additional instructions for making it healthier and making ahead of time.