Ingredients
- 8 ounces penne pasta, cooked and drained
- 4 teaspoons Cajun seasoning, divided
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, divided
- 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
- 1 red onion, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, sliced
- 1.5 cups heavy cream
- 3/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Cook the Pasta
Prepare the pasta by following the instructions on the package, then drain and set aside.
Season the Chicken
In a large resealable bag, mix together 3 teaspoons of Cajun seasoning, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
Add the chicken pieces to the bag. Seal it well and shake until the chicken is fully coated with the seasoning mix. Set aside.
Cook the Chicken
In a large skillet over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter.
Add the seasoned chicken to the skillet and cook until browned and thoroughly cooked. If necessary, work in batches. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
Cook the Vegetables
Melt the remaining tablespoon of butter in the same skillet.
Add the diced red onion and sliced green bell pepper. Cook, stirring often, until the vegetables start to soften, approximately 3 to 5 minutes.
Make the Sauce
Add the heavy cream, smoked paprika, dried basil, garlic powder, remaining Cajun seasoning, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper to the skillet.
Bring the mixture to a boil, then decrease the heat to a simmer. Cook until the sauce thickens.
Finish and Serve
Return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Add the grated Parmesan cheese and the drained pasta. Stir until the cheese melts and the sauce evenly coats everything.
Serve warm. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley, if desired.
Cajun Pasta
Ingredients
- 8 ounces penne pasta, cooked and drained
- 4 teaspoons Cajun seasoning, divided
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, divided
- 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
- 1 red onion, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, sliced
- 1.5 cups heavy cream
- 3/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Cook pasta as per package instructions, drain, and set aside.
- In a bag, mix 3 tsp Cajun seasoning, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp pepper. Add chicken pieces, seal, and shake to coat.
- In a skillet, melt 2 tbsp butter over medium heat. Cook chicken until browned and cooked through. Set aside.
- Melt remaining butter in the skillet. Add red onion and green bell pepper. Cook until softened, about 3-5 minutes.
- Add heavy cream, smoked paprika, dried basil, garlic powder, remaining Cajun seasoning, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp pepper. Bring to a boil, then simmer until thickened.
- Return chicken to skillet. Add Parmesan and pasta. Stir until cheese melts and sauce coats everything.
- Serve warm.