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Serving of creamy Cajun chicken pasta on a white plate with garnish

Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta

Easy, spicy, and creamy pasta dinner with chicken, penne, sausage and smoky Cajun flavors. Ready in 30 minutes and perfect for weeknight dinners.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 portions
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Cajun
Calories: 852

Ingredients
  

  • 3 tablespoon butter unsalted and divided
  • 1 lb chicken breasts
  • 6 oz smoked sausage sliced into 1/4 inch pieces
  • 8 oz baby Bella mushrooms sliced
  • Cajun seasoning to taste for chicken
  • Italian seasoning to taste
  • Salt and pepper to taste (optional)
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 cup chicken broth sodium free
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 2 teaspoon Cajun seasoning for sauce
  • 1 teaspoon Paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese freshly grated
  • Sea salt to taste
  • 8 oz penne pasta

Equipment

  • large skillet
  • Large pot for pasta
  • whisk
  • sharp knife

Method
 

  1. Boil pasta in salted water according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
  2. Generously season whole chicken breasts with salt, pepper, Cajun seasoning, and Italian seasoning. Do not slice yet. Slice sausage into 1/4 inch circles and slice mushrooms.
  3. In a large skillet, add 1 tablespoon butter and melt over medium-high heat. When pan is hot, add whole chicken breasts and cook for 4-5 minutes on each side until browned, for a total of 8-10 minutes. Remove chicken and slice into strips.
  4. Add sliced sausage pieces to the skillet and brown on medium heat for 2-3 minutes on each side until darker in color. Remove from skillet.
  5. Deglaze pan with a splash of water, then add the second tablespoon of butter and sliced mushrooms. Saute until mushrooms are moist and dark. Remove from pan.
  6. Add remaining 1 tablespoon butter to the pan and allow to melt. Cook minced garlic until slightly browned, about 30 seconds.
  7. Add chicken broth, Worcestershire sauce, and heavy cream. Bring to a light simmer. Add Cajun seasoning, paprika, and garlic powder and mix into the sauce.
  8. Reduce heat to medium-low. Add Parmesan cheese a little at a time and whisk to blend for 2-3 minutes to thicken the sauce. Taste and add salt as needed.
  9. Add cooked pasta into the sauce and mix well. Add the chicken, sausage, and mushrooms back into the pan. Allow to reheat for 2-3 minutes. Close the lid to help retain heat. Serve immediately.

Notes

Reduce heat when adding Parmesan to prevent clumping. Add cheese gradually for smoothest results. For less heat, use mild Cajun seasoning or reduce cayenne. For more heat, increase Cajun seasoning or add extra cayenne pepper. Pasta will absorb sauce as it sits, so add a splash of broth or cream when reheating.
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