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This creamy cajun chicken pasta is loaded with tender pieces of chicken tossed in a tomato cream sauce to give you a burst of flavor in every bite. Best of all, this spicy chicken pasta comes together quickly with just a few ingredients, making it the ultimate comfort meal for the weekdays.
Ingredients
- Olive oil: 1 tbsp to marinate the chicken, plus more for frying
- Butter: 1 tbsp
- Chicken breast: 2 boneless skinless, sliced into 4 thin pieces
- Rigatoni: 7 oz or your choice of pasta
- Cajun seasoning: 1 1/2 tbsp divided
- Garlic: 3 cloves minced
- Onion: 1/2 sliced
- Red bell pepper: 1/2 sliced
- Tomato sauce: 1/2 cup or crushed tomatoes
- Heavy cream: 1 cup
- Pasta water: 1/2 cup
- Parmesan cheese: 1/4 cup grated
- Chili flakes and parsley: optional, for garnish
Instructions
- Marinate chicken:
- In a medium bowl, add chicken, olive oil, and 1 tbsp cajun seasoning. Massage to coat evenly and set aside while preparing the other ingredients.
- Cook pasta and chicken:
- Cook pasta to about 1 minute shy of al dente, and reserve about a cup of pasta water. While your pasta is cooking, heat a skillet over medium heat, drizzle in some oil, and cook your chicken for about 2-3 minutes per side.
- Sauté and simmer sauce:
- In the same skillet, add butter and sauté onion and garlic, followed by the bell pepper. Add tomato sauce, heavy cream, 1/2 cup pasta water, and the remaining 1/2 tbsp cajun seasoning.
- Combine and finish:
- Simmer the sauce for about 2-3 minutes until thickened. Stir in your pasta and half of the chicken sliced into bite-sized pieces. Cook for 1-2 minutes until the pasta is tender, add parmesan cheese, and season with salt to taste.
- Serve:
- Serve each bowl of pasta with the remaining chicken pieces on top, and garnish with chili flakes and parsley. Enjoy!
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Recipe FAQs
- → What type of pasta works best for this dish?
Rigatoni holds the creamy sauce well, but penne or fettuccine are great alternatives for soaking up the flavors.
- → Can I use store-bought cajun seasoning?
Yes, store-bought works fine, but homemade seasoning lets you control the heat and salt levels better.
- → How can I make it spicier?
Add cayenne pepper to the sauce or increase chili flakes when garnishing for more heat.
- → Is it okay to use pre-cooked chicken?
Pre-cooked chicken can be used, but searing fresh marinated chicken adds more flavor to the dish.
- → Can this dish be made ahead of time?
It’s best served fresh, but leftovers can be stored for up to 3 days in the fridge and reheated gently.
- → What can I substitute for heavy cream?
You can use half-and-half or a mix of milk and cream cheese, though the texture may slightly change.