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Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta

Creamy pasta with just the right amount of heat to make your tastebuds dance. This pasta dinner is filled with juicy cajun chicken bites mixed into a creamy cheese sauce. It is a family favorite that will surely be your favorite too.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Main Course
Servings 5

Ingredients
  

  • 12 oz pasta (penne, fettuccine or spaghetti)
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1 cup diced sweet onion
  • 1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced
  • 4 cloves of garlic, minced
  • 2 tsp Cajun seasoning
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp ground black pepper
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes (add more or less depending on personal preference)
  • 1- 1/2 lbs chicken breast tenders, cut into bite size pieces
  • 1 cup parmesam cheese, freshly grated
  • 1 cup heavy cream, at room temperature
  • 4 oz cream cheese, at room temperature
  • 1/4 cup chicken broth

Instructions
 

  • Boil 6 cups of water in a large pot over high heat and cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain the pasta, rinse with cold water (so it doesn’t clump, can also toss a little olive oil on it to prevent clumping) and set aside.
  • While the pasta is cooking, add the butter, olive oil and onion to a large pot over medium-high heat and cook for 3-4 minutes, or until the onion becomes translucent.
  • Add the red bell pepper, garlic, Cajun seasoning, basil, paprika, ground black pepper, salt and cayenne pepper. Stir to combine and cook for 3 more minutes or until the bell pepper starts to become soft.
  • Add the chicken and stir and cook for another 6-8 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.
  • Add the parmesan, heavy cream, cream cheese and chicken broth and stir and cook for 8-10 minutes or until the sauce starts to thicken and the cream cheese has fully melted.
  • Add the cooked and drained pasta and stir to coat pasta with sauce. Cook for 2-3 minutes, then serve with freshly chopped parsley on top, if desired.

Notes

Cayenne Pepper: If you like heat, start by adding 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper and taste the sauce. Remember you can always add more cayenne pepper, but you can’t take it out!