Description
Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta is a delicious and quick dish featuring juicy, Cajun-spiced chicken breasts served over linguine tossed with sautéed bell peppers, onion, and mushrooms in a rich, creamy sauce. This recipe combines vibrant flavors and colorful vegetables for a satisfying and flavorful meal ready in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 4 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
- 3 tablespoons butter
Pasta
- 1 pound linguine
Vegetables and Sauce
- 3 medium multi-color bell peppers, sliced
- 1 red onion, sliced
- 8 ounces white or cremini mushrooms, sliced
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
- 2 cups heavy cream
Instructions
- Season the chicken: Rub each boneless, skinless chicken breast with about 1 teaspoon of Cajun seasoning evenly on all sides. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil in preparation for the pasta.
- Cook the chicken: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add 3 tablespoons of butter. Sear the seasoned chicken breasts in the butter until browned, about 2 minutes per side. Then reduce heat to medium-low and cook the chicken until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F, approximately 5 to 7 minutes per side depending on thickness. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside to rest.
- Prepare pasta and vegetables: While the chicken cooks, slice the bell peppers, red onion, and mushrooms. Cook the linguine according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Sauté vegetables: In the same skillet (do not clean it to retain flavors), melt the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add the sliced bell peppers, onion, and mushrooms and sauté until tender, stirring frequently, about 6 to 7 minutes. Sprinkle the remaining 2 teaspoons of Cajun seasoning over the vegetables and cook for an additional minute.
- Make the creamy sauce: Pour in 2 cups of heavy cream into the skillet with the vegetables and bring to a gentle simmer to thicken the sauce.
- Toss pasta and serve: Stir the cooked linguine into the creamy vegetable mixture and toss thoroughly to coat the pasta evenly. Slice the rested chicken breasts and arrange over the hot pasta to serve immediately.
Notes
- This dish is best served immediately to enjoy the creamy texture.
- You can substitute heavy cream with half-and-half for a lighter sauce, but it will be less rich.
- Use a homemade Cajun seasoning blend for a personalized flavor profile.
- For extra heat, add a pinch of cayenne pepper when seasoning the chicken and vegetables.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days and reheated gently on the stovetop.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 780 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 228 mg
- Fat: 44 g
- Saturated Fat: 26 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 66 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 29 g
- Cholesterol: 187 mg
