Spicy Creamy Cajun Chicken (Printer-Friendly)

Bold cajun flavors meet creamy tomato sauce in this easy and satisfying pasta dish.

# The Ingredients You'll Need:

01 - 7 oz rigatoni or preferred pasta

02 - 1/2 cup tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes

03 - 1 cup heavy cream

04 - 1/2 cup reserved pasta water

05 - 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

06 - 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, sliced into 4 thin pieces

07 - 1 tbsp olive oil for marinating

08 - 1 1/2 tbsp cajun seasoning, divided

09 - 3 cloves garlic, minced

10 - 1/2 onion, sliced

11 - 1/2 red bell pepper, sliced

12 - 1 tbsp butter

13 - Additional olive oil for frying

14 - Chili flakes, optional

15 - Fresh parsley, optional

01 - Combine chicken, olive oil, and 1 tbsp cajun seasoning in a bowl. Coat evenly and set aside.

02 - Boil pasta until 1 minute before al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water and drain the rest.

03 - Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook chicken 2–3 minutes per side until golden and cooked through.

04 - In the same skillet, add butter, sauté onion and garlic until fragrant, then add bell pepper.

05 - Add tomato sauce, heavy cream, pasta water, and remaining cajun seasoning. Simmer for 2–3 minutes until thickened.

06 - Add cooked pasta and half the sliced chicken to sauce. Stir and simmer 1–2 minutes. Add parmesan and adjust seasoning.

07 - Top each plate with remaining chicken. Garnish with chili flakes and parsley if desired.

01 - To intensify spice, add 1/4 tsp cayenne to the sauce or more chili flakes when garnishing.

02 - For optimal taste, serve immediately. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

03 - Use homemade cajun seasoning for better control over spice and salt levels.