A bold, creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta recipe that’s easy to make and big on flavor, perfect for spicing up your next weeknight dinner.
It’s been a hot minute since I’ve whipped up a one-pot pasta, but over the weekend I was seriously craving something creamy, a little spicy, a little smoky, and super easy. Enter: this One Pot Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta. It checks all the boxes, comes together in under an hour, and only uses one pan (bless).
This dish is perfect for those nights when you want something comforting but don’t want to be scrubbing dishes after dinner. It’s bold, flavorful, and totally customizable, whether you want it spicy, mild, creamy, or not-so-creamy. I’ve got you covered below!
So What Is Cajun Chicken Pasta?
It’s a cozy, all-in-one meal where tender chicken gets tossed with Cajun spices, onions, pasta, fire-roasted tomatoes, and a creamy sauce that brings it all together. It’s hearty, budget-friendly (seriously, under $10!), and makes enough to feed your hungry crew.
What You’ll Need
- Cajun Spice Blend: Smoked paprika, oregano, thyme, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, black pepper, and salt bring the heat and flavor.
- Olive Oil + Butter: Olive oil keeps things from sticking, while butter adds that rich, cozy flavor. Use what you’ve got!
- Chicken: Boneless, skinless breasts or thighs, whichever you prefer.
- Onion: Yellow onion adds sweetness and depth.
- Pasta: Penne works great, but any short pasta shape will do (just skip the long noodles).
- Fire-Roasted Diced Tomatoes: Bring that smoky flavor and a little zing.
- Chicken Broth: Builds the sauce and boosts flavor. Bouillon + water works too if you’re keeping it budget-friendly.
- Cream Cheese: For that creamy, tangy finish. Skip it or sub heavy cream if needed.
- Green Onions: Brighten things up at the end.
What to Serve with It
Honestly? It’s a full meal in a bowl, but if you want to round things out, add a simple side salad or some crusty bread to soak up all that sauce.
How to Make this Cajun Chicken Pasta
1. Mix the Seasoning
In a small bowl, stir together your Cajun spice blend:
2 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp each of oregano and thyme, ½ tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp onion powder, ¼ tsp cayenne, ¼ tsp black pepper, and ¼ tsp salt.
Cut about 1 lb of boneless, skinless chicken breasts into bite-sized cubes (about ½–¾ inch). Toss the chicken into a bowl, sprinkle the Cajun seasoning over the top, and stir it all together until every piece is coated in that smoky, spicy goodness.
2. Sear the Chicken
Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butter in a deep skillet over medium-high heat. Once it’s hot and the butter is nice and foamy, add your seasoned chicken. Let it cook a couple minutes per side—just enough to get some golden color. Don’t worry about cooking it through just yet!
3. Add the Onion
Toss in your diced yellow onion and sauté for a few more minutes, just until it starts to soften. The moisture from the onion will help loosen all those tasty browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
4. Add the Pasta + Liquids
Next, add ½ pound of penne pasta, a 15 oz can of fire-roasted diced tomatoes (juice and all), and 2 cups of chicken broth.
Give everything a good stir, pop a lid on the pan, and bring it up to a boil.
5. Simmer It Down
Once it’s boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low and let it simmer for about 10 minutes. Stir every couple of minutes to keep the pasta from sticking and to help everything cook evenly.
Simmer until the pasta is tender and the liquid has thickened into a nice, saucy consistency.
6. Make It Creamy
Add 2 oz of cream cheese to the skillet in small chunks. Stir it in until it melts and creates that creamy, dreamy Cajun sauce.
7. Finish + Serve
Top it all off with sliced green onions for a pop of color and freshness. Serve it up hot and dig in!
This one’s definitely going into my weeknight dinner rotation—easy cleanup, big flavor, and totally customizable! Want to make a spicy version or swap in shrimp? You’ve got options.
Tips + Variations
- Tweak the Heat: Love spice? Keep the cayenne as-is or add a little more. Want it mild? Cut it in half, or leave it out entirely (we’ll forgive you).
- Make It Creamy (or Not): If cream cheese isn’t your thing, use a splash of heavy cream or half-and-half instead. Or skip it entirely, the pasta still tastes amazing without the extra creaminess.
- Make It Fancy: Want to take it up a notch? Try stirring in crispy bacon or finishing it off with Parmesan. You can also toss in shrimp, either instead of or alongside the chicken, for a little surf-and-turf vibe.
One Pot Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta
It’s been a hot minute since I’ve whipped up a one-pot pasta, but over the weekend I was seriously craving something creamy, a little spicy, a little smoky, and super easy. Enter: this One Pot Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta. It checks all the boxes, comes together in under an hour, and only uses one pan (bless).
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients
CAJUN SEASONING:
2 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp salt
CHICKEN PASTA:
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp butter
1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast
1 yellow onion, diced
1/2 lb. penne pasta
15 oz. fire roasted diced tomatoes
2 cups chicken broth
2 oz. cream cheese
3 green onions, sliced
Instructions
- Start by mixing up your Cajun seasoning in a small bowl, just stir it all together and set it aside for now.
- Cut your chicken into bite-sized cubes (about ½ to ¾ inch). Toss the chicken into a bowl, pour the seasoning over top, and give it a good stir so every piece is coated with that spicy, smoky flavor.
- In a large, deep skillet, melt the butter and olive oil over medium-high heat. Once the butter is melted and foamy and the pan’s nice and hot, add the seasoned chicken. Let it cook for a couple minutes per side, just enough to get some golden color on the outside. It doesn’t need to be fully cooked through yet.
- Add the diced onion to the skillet and sauté everything together for another 2 minutes or so, just until the onion starts to soften. The moisture from the onion will help lift all those flavorful bits off the bottom of the pan, don’t skip this step!
- Now pour in the pasta, fire-roasted diced tomatoes (liquid and all), and the chicken broth. Give it a quick stir so everything is well combined, then cover the pan and bring it to a boil.
- Once it hits a boil, lower the heat to medium-low and let it simmer for about 10 minutes. Stir every couple of minutes to keep things from sticking and to help the pasta cook evenly.
- When the pasta is tender and the sauce has thickened into that perfect, creamy texture, it’s time to add the cream cheese. Drop it in a few chunks at a time and stir until it’s fully melted and blended into the sauce.
- Top it all off with sliced green onions and serve it up warm. That’s it, dinner’s done and delicious!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stove
- Cuisine: American
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10 out of 10! Easy dinner to make and your instructions were super simple to follow! Tasted GREAT!
YES! This recipe is one of my favorites!