If you're after a quick, flavour-packed meal, this creamy Cajun chicken pasta is hard to beat. Tender chicken coated in Cajun spices is tossed through a rich, velvety sauce for a comforting pasta dinner that's perfect any night of the week. It's an easy spicy chicken pasta that delivers big flavour with very little effort.
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A Quick Look At The Recipe
✅ Recipe Name: Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta
🕒 Ready In: 30 minutes
👪 Serves: 4
🍽 Calories: 645 per serving
🥣 Main Ingredients: Chicken Breasts, Onion, Garlic, Cajun Spices, Pasta, Passata, Double Cream
📖 Dietary Info: Contains dairy and gluten
👌 Difficulty: Easy
Summarise & Save This Content On
This Cajun pasta recipe is full of flavour and comes together with minimal fuss in under 30 minutes.
Tender chicken coated in Cajun spices meets a rich, garlicky sauce with just a touch of heat, creating a dish that's indulgent but easy enough for a weeknight.
Serve it with a little Parmesan, a squeeze of lemon, or some fresh parsley-it's the kind of pasta everyone will go back for seconds.
Love chicken pasta recipes? Try my rasta pasta, paprika chicken pasta or BBQ chicken pasta next!
Jump to:
- A Quick Look At The Recipe
- ✔️ Why should you try it?
- 🥘 Ingredients
- Need to substitute an ingredient?
- 📖 Variations
- 🔪 How to make creamy Cajun chicken pasta
- Top Tips for Perfect Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta
- 🍴 Serving suggestions
- Storage
- ❓ Frequently asked questions
- Troubleshooting Guide
- 😋Related recipes
- Recipe
- 💬 Comments
✔️ Why should you try it?
- Bold flavours - give the chicken a punchy, irresistible taste.
- Comforting and creamy - rich sauce and tender chicken make it a warming, indulgent meal.
- Quick to cook - ready in around 30 minutes, ideal for busy evenings.
- Flexible recipe - easily add vegetables, swap protein, or adjust the spice.
🥘 Ingredients
A full ingredients list along with Metric and US Customary measurements, can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.
Cajun Spice Mix - Make sure it's fresh, or try making your own with paprika, cayenne, garlic powder, onion powder, and oregano.
Smoked Paprika - Adds extra depth of flavour.
Olive Oil - For frying. Sunflower or vegetable oil can be used instead.
Chicken - 2 chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces.
Garlic - 2 cloves, finely chopped (or garlic powder if needed).
Onion - 1 small white onion, finely chopped (red onion or spring onions are fine substitutes).
Peppers - 1 red bell pepper, sliced (orange or yellow peppers work too).
Passata - The base for the sauce; chopped tomatoes can be used if you prefer a chunkier texture.
Ketchup - Adds a touch of sweetness. You could also use a teaspoon of sugar or honey.
Double Cream - Makes the sauce silky and rich. Creme fraiche or US heavy cream can be used as alternatives.
Pasta - Penne or any short pasta such as rigatoni or farfalle.
Parmesan - Finely grated to season the dish (or Pecorino Romano for a sharper flavour).
Parsley - Adds colour and freshness.
Lemon - A squeeze of fresh juice helps balance the richness.
Salt and Pepper - For seasoning.
Need to substitute an ingredient?
Have an allergy or dietary preference? Let AI customise the recipe for you.
📖 Variations
- Add more veggies - Spinach, cherry tomatoes, or sweetcorn make it colourful and nutrient-packed.
- Lower fat - Use half-fat creme fraiche instead of double cream.
- Spicier - Add a chopped red chilli with the onion and garlic.
- Smoky twist - Stir in smoked sausage or chorizo for extra depth.
- Wholewheat pasta - Swap for white pasta for more fibre.
- Vegetarian - Use quorn, tofu, or roasted sweet potato instead of chicken.
- Gluten-free - Use gluten-free pasta.
🔪 How to make creamy Cajun chicken pasta
One: Heat the oil in a shallow casserole or frying pan over medium heat. Fry the onion and garlic for 3-4 minutes until soft. Meanwhile, bring a pan of salted water to the boil and cook the pasta until al dente. Drain and set aside.
Two: Add the red pepper strips and cook for 3 minutes until slightly softened.
Three: Turn the heat up slightly and add the chicken pieces. Stir until browned and no longer pink.
Four: Sprinkle over the Cajun spice mix and smoked paprika, stirring to coat the chicken evenly.
Five: Pour in the passata, ketchup, cream, lemon juice, and grated Parmesan. Simmer gently for 7-8 minutes until the sauce is smooth and slightly thickened.
Six: Stir through the cooked pasta and cook for a few more minutes until heated through. Serve with freshly chopped parsley and extra Parmesan. Season to taste.
Top Tips for Perfect Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta
- Use fresh spices - make sure your Cajun spice mix is in date. Fresh spices make a noticeable difference to the flavour of the dish.
- Cook aromatics gently - softening the onion and garlic slowly brings out their sweetness and builds a richer sauce.
- Keep pasta al dente - slightly firm pasta holds up better when mixed with the sauce and prevents a mushy texture.
- Even chicken pieces - cut the chicken into similar-sized pieces so it cooks evenly and stays juicy.
- One-pot shortcut - for an easy cleanup and extra flavour, use fresh pasta and cook it directly in the sauce (you'll need to increase the passata to 350ml)
🍴 Serving suggestions
Tasty side dishes to serve with the Cajun chicken pasta include air fryer garlic bread, green salad, cornbread, or air fryer corn on the cob.
Storage
Store - keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Freeze - allow the pasta to cool completely, then transfer to a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 2 months.
Reheat - gently reheat in a pan over low heat, adding a splash of cream, milk, or water to loosen the sauce. You can also reheat in the microwave, stirring halfway through.
❓ Frequently asked questions
Cajun seasoning originates from Louisiana, the home of Cajun cooking. Everyone has their own take on Cajun seasoning but it generally contains paprika, cayenne, garlic powder, oregano and pepper flakes.
Yes, my favourite Cajun seasoning recipe is
2 tablespoons paprika.
1 tablespoon smoked paprika
2 tablespoons garlic powder.
2 tablespoons salt or to taste.
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper.
1 tablespoon onion powder.
1 tablespoon dried oregano.
1 tablespoon pepper flakes.
1 tablespoon fresh ground black pepper.
Store in a sealed jar and use within 8 weeks.
Yes - simply use less Cajun spice to suit your taste, or start with a small amount and add more gradually.
Short pasta shapes such as penne, rigatoni, or farfalle are ideal, as their ridges and curves help the creamy sauce cling perfectly.
Yes, you can use 4 boneless skinless chicken thighs instead.
Troubleshooting Guide
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Sauce too thin | Simmer for a few extra minutes to reduce and thicken, or stir in a little more cream to achieve a richer consistency. |
| Chicken dry or overcooked | Cut chicken into even pieces and cook just until no longer pink to keep it tender and juicy. |
| Pasta mushy | Cook pasta to al dente and add it to the sauce at the last moment so it doesn't overcook. |
😋Related recipes
More delicious pasta recipes to try!
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Recipe
Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta
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Equipment
- Chopping Board
- Knife
- Wooden Spoon
- Pasta Pan
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
- 1 Onion chopped (or use red onion)
- 2 Garlic Cloves finely chopped
- 1 Red Pepper sliced
- 2 Chicken Breasts diced (or use quorn pieces)
- 3 tablespoon Cajun Spice
- 1 teaspoon Smoked Paprika
- 250 ml Passata
- 150 ml Double Cream (Heavy Cream) or use half fat creme fraiche
- 2 tablespoon Tomato Ketchup or 1 teaspoon sugar
- ½ Lemon juice only
- 50 g Parmesan grated
- 2 tablespoon Parsley finely chopped
- 250 g Penne or use rigatoni or farfalle
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a shallow casserole or frying pan over medium heat. Fry the onion and garlic for 3-4 minutes until soft. Meanwhile, bring a pan of salted water to the boil and cook the pasta until al dente. Reserve a cup of pasta cooking water, drain and set aside.1 tablespoon Olive Oil, 1 Onion, 250 g Penne, 2 Garlic Cloves
- Add the red pepper strips and cook for 3 minutes until slightly softened.1 Red Pepper
- Turn the heat up slightly and add the chicken pieces. Stir until browned and no longer pink.2 Chicken Breasts
- Sprinkle over the Cajun spice mix and smoked paprika, stirring to coat the chicken evenly.3 tablespoon Cajun Spice, 1 teaspoon Smoked Paprika
- Stir in the cajun seasoning and smoked paprika.
- Pour in the passata, ketchup, cream, lemon juice, and grated Parmesan. Simmer gently for 7-8 minutes until the sauce is smooth and slightly thickened.250 ml Passata, 150 ml Double Cream (Heavy Cream), 2 tablespoon Tomato Ketchup, ½ Lemon, 50 g Parmesan
- Stir through the cooked pasta and cook for a few more minutes until heated through (add a little reserved pasta cooking water to help the sauce become glossy). Serve with freshly chopped parsley and extra Parmesan. Season to taste.2 tablespoon Parsley
Notes
- Adjust the spice - Cajun seasoning can be strong; start with less and add more to taste for a milder or spicier dish.
- Cook pasta al dente - Slightly firm pasta works best, as it will continue to soften when mixed with the sauce.
- Check sauce consistency - Simmer a little longer if too thin, or add a splash of pasta water or cream if it's too thick.
- Reheat carefully - Warm leftovers gently, adding a little cream or milk to keep the sauce smooth.
Holly says
Love this with gluten free pasta! I added spinach and some other fresh vegetables too.
Megan says
As a former New Orleans girl this hit the spot!
Shanna says
This was so delicious. The hint of lemon is what made this dish. I can't wait to make it again.
Rachna says
My mouth is watering just reading through the recipe. I will be trying it out this weekend.
Priya Srinivasan says
Wow creamy cajun chicken pasta looks fabulous! Checking the ingredients list for cajun seasonning, yaay, i have them all, going to make that first! This chicken pasta looks a brilliant dinner for any day!!!
Alina says
I'm obsessed with making pasta for dinner! I think it's a great comfort food that is so easy to make. Thank you for the recipe, I'm going to make it for the next week.
Saif says
I love cajun chicken pasta. It is one of the most delicious pasta recipe I tried. The smoked paprika makes it better.
Emily Liao says
This cajun pasta was weeknight dinner perfection! So flavorful and easy to make.
Jenn says
I love ALL the flavors in this dish and am looking forward to making it soon! I think I can count on this being another of my favorite recipes from your blog!
Sara Welch says
Made this for dinner last night and it does not disappoint! So creamy and delicious; easily, a new favorite dinner recipe!
CLARA says
Great recipe, I love the combination of cajun seasoning in a pasta. And yes it's a great recipe for sneaking in those leftover veggies, the spinach and cherry tomatoes worked really well.