This easy Cajun chicken pasta recipe is super simple to make and on the table in under 30 minutes, making it the ideal dish for busy weeknights.
It's creamy, smoky, and just a little bit spicy, and I guarantee everyone will be asking for seconds!
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My family LOVES this easy Cajun chicken pasta, and I love it too. There are lots of ways to vary the basic recipe, so read on to find out!
👩🍳 Love spicy pasta? Try my rasta pasta too!
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✔️ Why should you try it?
- Easy chicken pasta recipe.
- On the table in 30 minutes.
- Perfect for busy weeknights.
🥘 Ingredients
Cajun Spice Mix - make sure your spice blend is fresh, or why not have a go at making your own?
Smoked Paprika - adds extra flavour.
Olive Oil - for frying. You could also use sunflower oil.
Chicken - 2 chicken breasts cut into medium pieces.
Garlic - 2 cloves, peeled and finely chopped.
Onion - 1 small white onion, finely chopped. Alternatively use red onion or spring onions.
Peppers - I've used a red pepper but orange or yellow peppers can also be used.
Passata - the base for the cajun tomato sauce. If you like your sauces chunky, use chopped tomatoes instead.
Ketchup - adds a hint of sweetness to the sauce. You could substitute it for a teaspoon of sugar instead.
Double Cream - makes the sauce smooth, silky and creamy. You could also use creme fraiche.
Pasta - penne, or any short pasta such as rigatoni or farfalle.
Parmesan - finely grated Parmesan acts as a seasoning and gives the dish a delicious savoury flavour.
Parsley - adds colour and freshness.
Lemon - a squeeze of fresh lemon juice helps cut through the richness.
Salt and Pepper - for seasoning.
🔪 Instructions
The recipe card with ingredient quantities and detailed instructions can be found at the bottom of the post
One: Heat the oil in a shallow casserole and fry the onion and garlic for 3-4 minutes, on a medium heat. Meanwhile, bring a pan of salted water to the boil and cook your pasta to al dente, drain and set aside.
Two: Add the red pepper strips and continue to cook for another 3 minutes.
Three: Turn the heat up and add the chicken and stir until the chicken changes colour.
Four: Stir through the Cajun seasoning and smoked paprika.
Five: Add the passata, ketchup, cream, lemon juice and grated Parmesan and simmer for 7-8 minutes.
Six: Stir through the cooked pasta and continue to cook for a further few minutes to warm through. Serve with freshly chopped parsley and more Parmesan. Season to taste.
💭 Top tips
- Make sure your Cajun spice is fresh and in date. You will really notice a difference in flavour if you use out-of-date spices!
- The recipe can easily be doubled to feed a crowd.
- Make this a one-pot recipe by using fresh pasta and cooking it directly in the sauce.
🍴 Serving suggestions
The cajun pasta is great served on its own with plenty of fresh parsley and parmesan. Tasty side dishes to serve with it include green salad, cornbread, or air fryer corn on the cob.
📖 Variations
- Up the veggies by adding in fresh spinach, halved cherry tomatoes and sweetcorn at the same time as you add the cooked pasta.
- Make it lower in fat by using half-fat creme fraiche instead of double cream.
- Make it spicier by adding 1 chopped red chili with the onion and garlic.
- Give it a smoky edge by adding in 150g of smoked sausage, cut into 1cm discs.
- Use wholewheat pasta instead of white pasta to increase the fibre content of the dish.
- Make it vegetarian by using quorn or tofu pieces in place of the chicken. You could even add roasted sweet potato cubes!
- Make it gluten-free by using gluten-free pasta
🥡 Storage
As with most pasta recipes, this Cajun chicken pasta tastes best when it's been freshly cooked. However, you can reheat leftovers the next day (it makes a tasty quick lunch!).
Just add a splash of water before microwaving to ensure the pasta doesn't dry out. It's best to cover the pasta with clingfilm to retain as much moisture as possible.
❓ FAQS
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.
Cajun food is heavily spiced but not necessarily hot.
😋Related recipes
More delicious pasta recipes to try!
- Halloumi Pasta with Chorizo
- Salmon and Prawn Pasta
- Lemon Chicken Pasta
- Baked Tortellini
- Paprika Chicken Pasta
- Creamy BBQ Chicken Pasta
- Easy Cheesy Pasta
- Creamy Bacon and Pumpkin Pasta
- Chicken Penne Arrabbiata
Dinner inspiration from the Effortless Foodie kitchen!
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Recipe
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 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
- Bring a pan of salted water to the boil and cook the pasta according to instructions. Drain and set aside.250 g Penne
- Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a shallow casserole or large frying pan and cook the onion and garlic for 3-4 minutes on a medium heat.1 tablespoon Olive Oil, 1 Onion, 2 Garlic Cloves
- Add the red pepper strip and cook for a fruther 3 monutes.1 Red Pepper
- Turn the heat up and add the chicken. Cook until the chicken changes colour.2 Chicken Breasts
- Stir in the cajun seasoning and smoked paprika.3 tablespoon Cajun Spice, 1 teaspoon Smoked Paprika
- Add the passata, ketchup, double cream, lemon juice and Parmesan and simmer for 7-8 minutes.250 ml Passata, 150 ml Double Cream, 2 tablespoon Tomato Ketchup, ½ Lemon, 50 g Parmesan
- Add in the pasta and warm through. Serve with chopped parsley and more grated Parmesan.2 tablespoon Parsley
Notes
- Up the veggies by adding in fresh spinach, halved cherry tomatoes and sweetcorn at the same time as you add the cooked pasta.
- Make it lower in fat by using half fat creme fraiche instead of double cream.
- Make it spicier by adding 1 chopped red chili with the onion and garlic.
- Give it a smoky edge by adding in 150g of smoked sausage, cut into 1cm discs.
- Use wholewheat pasta instead of white pasta to increase the fibre content of the dish.
- Make it vegetarian by using quorn or tofu pieces in place of the chicken. You could even add roasted sweet potato cubes!
- Make it gluten-free by using gluten-free pasta.
Holly
Love this with gluten free pasta! I added spinach and some other fresh vegetables too.
Megan
As a former New Orleans girl this hit the spot!
Shanna
This was so delicious. The hint of lemon is what made this dish. I can't wait to make it again.
Rachna
My mouth is watering just reading through the recipe. I will be trying it out this weekend.
Priya Srinivasan
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
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
I love cajun chicken pasta. It is one of the most delicious pasta recipe I tried. The smoked paprika makes it better.
Emily Liao
This cajun pasta was weeknight dinner perfection! So flavorful and easy to make.
Jenn
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
Made this for dinner last night and it does not disappoint! So creamy and delicious; easily, a new favorite dinner recipe!
CLARA
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.