How To Make Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta
This loaded Cajun chicken pasta is a filling meal packed with grilled chicken, bell peppers, and mushrooms, tossed with linguine in a creamy cheesy sauce.
Serves:
Ingredients
- 1lbchicken breasts,boneless, skinless, or shrimp
- 2tbspolive oil,divided
- 6tspCajun seasoning,divided, *
- 12ozdry linguine,or fettuccine pasta
- 2tbspbutter
- 1garlic clove,minced
- 3tbspflour
- 1½cupsmilk
- ½cupheavy cream,or half and half
- ⅓cupParmesan cheese,shredded
- 1½cupsred bell pepper,(1 medium), sliced into thin strips then strips halved
- 1½cupsyellow bell pepper,(1 medium), sliced into thin strips then strips halved
- ½large red onion,sliced into thin strips
- 2cupsbutton mushrooms,(about 8), sliced
- fresh parsley,for garnish
Instructions
-
Heat a grill over medium-high heat. Brush the chicken with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and sprinkle with 2 teaspoons of the Cajun seasoning.
-
Grill the chicken for about 8 to 10 minutes until cooked through, rotating once halfway through grilling until the center of the chicken registers 165 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer.
-
Transfer to a plate, cover with foil and let rest for 5 minutes. Then, cut into strips.
-
Boil the pasta in salted water according to directions listed on the package. Reserve ⅓ cup pasta water before draining.
-
In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in the garlic and flour and cook for 1 minute, whisking constantly.
-
While whisking slowly, pour in the milk and whisk vigorously to smooth lumps. Stir in 1 to 3 teaspoons of Cajun seasoning to taste. Season with additional salt as needed.
-
Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly, then reduce heat to low. Stir in the Parmesan and cream, then cook until cheese has melted. Remove from heat and set aside.
-
Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the red and yellow peppers and red onion and sauté for 2 minutes.
-
Add 1 teaspoon of Cajun seasoning and mushrooms and sauté for 2 minutes longer.
-
Toss the drained pasta with the sauce mixture, adding reserved pasta water 1 tablespoon at a time, to thin sauce as desired. Toss in pepper mixture and chicken.
-
Serve warm sprinkled with parsley and additional Cajun seasoning to taste. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
*Check out this Homemade Cajun Seasoning Recipe to learn how to make it.
Nutrition
- Calories: 600.78kcal
- Fat: 28.07g
- Saturated Fat: 12.38g
- Trans Fat: 0.23g
- Monounsaturated Fat: 10.53g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 2.97g
- Carbohydrates: 56.06g
- Fiber: 3.64g
- Sugar: 7.84g
- Protein: 30.61g
- Cholesterol: 97.45mg
- Sodium: 205.13mg
- Calcium: 230.77mg
- Potassium: 651.61mg
- Iron: 2.61mg
- Vitamin A: 253.96µg
- Vitamin C: 96.07mg
Was this page helpful?
Have your own special recipe to share? Submit Your Recipe Today!