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This simple Lighter Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta is made in 30 minutes and uses just one pot. It’s the perfect quick-cooking pasta that’s great for both busy weeknights and laid-back weekends too. Every bite is layered with spicy flavor, bell peppers, crispy chicken, the absolute best creamy parmesan sauce (made on the lighter side), and finished with fresh basil.
If there was one pasta to make this week, this is it. Hands downs, one of my favorites. And for two reasons. First, this is so, so, so easy to make. Simply boil the pasta, sear the chicken, make the sauce, and toss!.
Simple, simple.
And second? There is so much flavor. Mostly thanks to a good spoonful of my homemade cajun seasoning blend…it’s delicious.
And really all I have to say is that I wish I would have put this one together sooner, it’s soo delicious and so easy. A great new addition to your recipe rotation!
The Process
As you might guess, this is pretty simple and straightforward. But I gave it some get-up-and-go with the addition of my cajun seasoning blend.
Start with the pasta. For this particular recipe, I like to boil and drain the pasta first.
While the pasta is boiling, start prepping. Chop the chicken, prep the bell peppers, and grab some herbs. The idea is that by the time the pasta is finished boiling, all the other prep work will be complete.
Once you drain the pasta, move on to the chicken. Toss it with a little cajun seasoning, then cook it until it’s just crisp.
Now that sauce…
First, you’ll need to cook up some onions, peppers, garlic, herbs, and a touch more cajun seasoning. Then add a splash of chicken broth, milk, and plenty of parmesan. Next comes the ingredient that keeps the sauce creamy without adding any additional cream or butter…the tiniest amount of cream cheese.
I know cream cheese isn’t typical, but I swear it creates a silky smooth sauce every time. And a little goes a long way. Trust me, it really does the trick!
Once the sauce comes together, toss in the pasta, and add the chicken back in. And that’s it! Top with additional parmesan and lots of fresh basil and thyme.
Yummm!
This recipe is all about the sauce and that spicy cajun chicken. The sauce is slightly spicy, herby, and ever so creamy. It’s my favorite combo. And the chicken? It’s a game-changer, tender and delicious, and just perfectly seasoned and spicy! SO GOOD in this creamy pasta.
This is the perfect dish for livening up an average Wednesday night. Or maybe save it for a Friday night. Either way, everyone loves this simple, creamy pasta!
Looking for other quick pasta recipes? Here are a few…
Jammy Cherry Tomato Pasta with Crisp Lemon Rosemary Chickpeas
Southern Style Creamy Parmesan Chicken Pasta
20 Minute Lemon Butter Pasta with Ricotta and Spicy Breadcrumbs
Lastly, if you make this Lighter Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Lighter Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 467 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Watch the How-To Reel
Ingredients
- 1 pound short-cut pasta
- 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 pound chicken tenders, cut into bite size pieces
- 1 tablespoon, plus 1-2 teaspoons cajun seasoning
- kosher salt and black pepper
- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
- 2 bell peppers, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped or grated
- crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 cup low sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup milk
- 2 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
Instructions
- 1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta al dente, according to package directions. Drain.2. In the same pot set over medium-high heat, add 2 tablespoons olive oil, the onion, chicken, and 1 tablespoon cajun seasoning. Cook until browned all over, about 5 minutes. Spoon the chicken onto a plate.3. To the pot, add 2 tablespoons olive oil, the bell peppers, and garlic. Cook another 5 minutes until the peppers are soft. Stir in 1-2 teaspoons cajun seasoning. Add a pinch each of red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Cook another minute, until the spices are fragrant, then pour in the broth and milk. Add the cream cheese. Whisk until smooth. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer and cook 5 minutes, until thickened slightly.4. Stir in the parmesan. Then toss in the pasta and chicken and cook 2-3 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the basil. Serve immediately topped with additional basil. Enjoy!
Notes
Homemade Cajun Seasoning: mix 2 1/2 tablespoons smoked paprika, 2 tablespoons garlic powder, 1 tablespoon onion powder, 1 tablespoon dried oregano, 1 tablespoon dried thyme, 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper, 1 1/2 tablespoons kosher salt, and 1 tablespoon black pepper. Makes 3/4 cup.
This post was originally published on May 19, 2021
So good -added to our monthly meal plan
rotation! Very adaptable for whatever I have on hand- have subbed more broth and a tablespoon of butter for milk and cotija for Parmesan it is still very creamy and delicious. Have also made with grilled Cajun salmon instead of chicken and it’s also wonderful!
Hey Kath,
Thanks so much! Love to hear you enjoyed this recipe, I appreciate you making it! Have a great day!
I’m going to make this tonight. Since I don’t really care about the calories, can I just use heavy cream instead of the milk + cream cheese combo?
Hey Charles,
Sure, that will work nicely for you. I hope you love this dish!
Loved this recipe. We used a bit different noodle (penne) and it was so good
Hey Alison,
Awesome! Thanks for making this recipe and your feedback, love to hear it was a hit!
Happy New Year!🥂🎆
So delicious. I added fresh spinach so we could get our greens in one dish. Love this dish. Thanks Tieghan!
Hey Toni,
Fantastic! I appreciate you making this recipe and your notes, love to hear it was enjoyed!
Have a great holiday week!🎄🎁
Hi! Will this meal be okay to eat cold? If so how long should it last refrigerated please?
Hi Sarah! This would definitely taste best if heated up, I wouldn’t recommend eating this cold! It should last for up to a week in the fridge! 🙂 xT
I would totally eat it cold. Dont always have a way to heat your food if you work certain jobs. Anything can be ate cold.
Tieghan, This recipe looks amazin? I plan to try it tonight. I was wondering what you thought about using 1% milk and 1/3 less fat cream cheese?
Thanks,
Don
Hey Don! Yes, that should work great as a lighter alternative! xT
On #1 I would add “set chicken aside” at the end. I have, on multiple occasions, not realized that you’re supposed to add the pasta in later and have added the pasta and chicken with the broth to simmer together. Since it says “using the same pot” it’s confusing.
Thanks for sharing your feedback, Lindsay! I will try to make this more clear!
This was fantastic, we loved it and will make it again! Still tastes creamy even with the healthy modifications. Does the calorie amount include the pasta?
Hey Julie,
Thanks so much! So glad to hear this recipe was a hit, I appreciate you making it! Yes, it does. Have a great Friday! xxT
What can I use to sub for the cream cheese? Can I use more milk?
Hi Mikaela,
Greek yogurt is a nice option in place of the cream cheese. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xx
This sounds great. If I plan to also add sausage into this dish in addition to the chicken, should I add more milk and/or cream cheese? Let me know what you suggest!
Hey Erin,
I would say it depends how much sausage you are adding, if it’s just a little I would keep the recipe as is:) If you are adding a lot you might want to up the milk and spices. I hope this helps! xT
Subbed with almond milk and thickened a little with cornstarch. So delicious!
Hey Mary,
Happy Friday! Thanks a lot for making this recipe and your comment, so glad it turned out well! xT
Easy, easy, easy to make and it’s delicious!!!
Just finished some leftovers for lunch and it’s just as good the second time around!!!
Thank you so much Stuart:) Love to hear that this dish turned out well for you and I appreciate you making it! xT