4.7 from 225 votes
Cajun Chicken Pasta
This is the best Cajun Chicken Pasta recipe! It's creamy, cheesy, loaded with flavor, and on the table in 30 minutes! An easy weeknight dinner your whole family will love.
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
30 mins
Servings: 4
Calories: 674 kcal
Course:
Main Course , Dinner
Cuisine:
American , Cajun
Ingredients
- 8 ounces penne 2 cups, uncooked
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound chicken breast 2 chicken breasts, boneless and skinless, cut into small pieces
- 2 tablespoons Cajun Seasoning or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon salt or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon pepper or to taste
- 2 links smoked sausage cut into slices, about 8 ounces
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- ¼ cup parsley chopped
- 2 cups half and half or heavy cream
- 1 cup Parmesan Cheese shredded
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package instructions until it's al dente (cooked until it's still firm when bitten). Drain and set aside.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken to the skillet, then sprinkle with the cajun seasoning and season with salt and pepper. Cook until the chicken is no longer pink and is cooked through, should take about 5 minutes.
- Stir in the sausage and cook for a couple more minutes until the sausage starts to brown.
- Add the garlic, parsley to the skillet and stir. Cook for 30 seconds until the garlic becomes aromatic.
- Add the half and half and cook until it comes to a boil. Stir in the parmesan cheese.
- Add the penne and stir everything together.
- Garnish with more parmesan cheese and parsley if preferred and serve while warm.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Half and Half: Half and half has 12 percent fat content. Heavy cream can also be used. It is also called heavy whipping cream because it's whipping cream with a milk fat content between 36 and 40 percent.
- Leftovers: Store leftovers in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days. Make sure to refrigerate within two hours of cooking. Keep in mind that the pasta will soak up all the sauce.
- Make ahead: Make the sauce ahead, then refrigerate. When ready to serve cook the pasta, then add the pasta to the sauce and cook until heated through.
- Note that that reheating leftovers may cause the pasta to become slightly dry. To prevent this, you can add a splash of chicken broth or water before reheating to add some moisture.
Nutrition Information
Serving
1serving
Calories
674kcal
(34%)
Carbohydrates
51g
(17%)
Protein
45g
(90%)
Fat
32g
(49%)
Saturated Fat
15g
(75%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
3g
Monounsaturated Fat
12g
Trans Fat
0.01g
Cholesterol
132mg
(44%)
Sodium
764mg
(32%)
Potassium
841mg
(24%)
Fiber
3g
(12%)
Sugar
7g
(14%)
Vitamin A
2698IU
(54%)
Vitamin C
8mg
(9%)
Calcium
461mg
(46%)
Iron
2mg
(11%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 674
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1serving | |
| Calories | 674kcal | 34% |
| Carbohydrates | 51g | 17% |
| Protein | 45g | 90% |
| Fat | 32g | 49% |
| Saturated Fat | 15g | 75% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 3g | 18% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 12g | 60% |
| Trans Fat | 0.01g | 1% |
| Cholesterol | 132mg | 44% |
| Sodium | 764mg | 32% |
| Potassium | 841mg | 18% |
| Fiber | 3g | 12% |
| Sugar | 7g | 14% |
| Vitamin A | 2698IU | 54% |
| Vitamin C | 8mg | 9% |
| Calcium | 461mg | 46% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.