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This copycat Cajun chicken pasta recipe is absolutely delicious and easy to make. There's cajun spices with a rich and creamy Alfredo sauce. Since it's homemade, you know exactly what you're eating! Use your choice of pasta. It's a great recipe that's quick and easy to make and it takes less than 25 minute to make!
Update: I usually post step by step with photos but this is an older recipe which needed some much needed post updates. No change to the recipe though. I plan on updating this post with step by step pics very soon! Post updated 8/4/2020
The first time I tried Chili's chicken pasta, I thought it was pretty good, but I also knew I could make my own version taste better. This Cajun chicken pasta has a rich and smooth melt-in- your -mouth Parmesan sauce and juicy tender spicy chicken breast then topped with fresh grape tomatoes and lemon zest. It's so delicious!
This spicy chicken pasta tastes way better than the restaurant's version. It's my families favorite! My 7 year old kid loves it too but due to the spice factor, I always season his portion separately. You can can easily adjust this recipe to make it kid friendly if needed.
How to make Cajun Chicken Pasta:
The best part of making your own cajun chicken copycat recipe is that you know what you're eating and you control the ingredients. Okay so let's get to the recipe.
- Make sure you have a skillet or cast iron that will be big enough to hold all your delicious food. I use this cast iron skillet. I like to flatten my chicken breast then add the spicy Cajun seasoning and set it to the side for later.
- Next, cook the pasta. I used linguine but feel free to use penne pasta, elbow or whatever you like.
- Cook the garlic and onion in a separate skillet. I removed the garlic and onions and reserve for later.
- Cook the Cajun chicken for about 3 minutes on each side or more depending on how thick the chicken is.
- Once the pasta and the chicken breasts are done, add the pasta to the pan with the chicken.
- Over low heat, add butter, heavy whipping cream, the cooked garlic and onion mixture and Parmesan cheese. Toss everything together.
- Lastly, garnish with lemon zest, parsley, fresh pearl halved tomatoes. Serve with more Parmesan if you like.
The rich Parmesan sauce with the spicy chicken and fresh tomatoes is so darn good. If you know me you know, I love chicken and pasta anything. To make this recipe even easier, or if you're short on time, grab a jar of store brand Alfredo sauce. I love homemade but sometimes in a pinch I will reach for some Alfredo sauce!
I absolutely love pasta, especially Cajun chicken pasta (my favorite pasta recipe) but hate that it can add inches to the waist, so everything in moderation! Let me leave you to make this delicious recipe! Enjoy!
Cajun Chicken Pasta
Ingredients
- 8 oz linguine
- 1 lb chicken breast
- 2 tbsp of Cajun seasoning
- salt for taste
- pepper for taste
- ½ tbs fresh minced garlic
- 1 tbs fresh minced onion
- ¼ tsp crushed red pepper seasoning optional. Add only if you like heat
- ¼ tsp smoked paprika optional
- 1 tbs olive oil plus more for the pan
- 2 tbs unsalted butter
- 1 cup of heavy whipping cream or more for taste
- ½ cup or more for taste of freshly grated Parmesan use more to garnish
- ½ tsp lemon zest
- 1 tsp fresh parsley
- ⅛ cup pearl tomatoes sliced thin.
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package instructions.
- Place chicken and Cajun seasoning, salt, pepper and 1 tbs olive oil in a bowl and toss to coat.
- In a large skillet or cast iron over medium heat add 1 tsp olive oil to a pan. Once the olive oil starts sizzling, add the garlic, onions and optional crushed red peppers. Cook until fragrant about a minute making sure to not burn it by stirring the garlic. Remove from pan and set to the side.
- In the same large skillet over medium heat, sauté chicken in a tbs olive oil until chicken is tender, about 3 minutes on each side or until cooked through.
- Reduce heat add the cooked linguine, heavy cream,butter, the onion and garlic and Parmesan cheese. Add salt and pepper for taste if needed. Toss everything together and heat through.
- Garnish with lemon zest, parsley and pearl tomatoes.
Notes
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Anonymous
I tried this recipe last night and my family loved it!!
Best pasta recipe I've tried yet!
April
That's great to hear! I'm happy you and your family enjoyed it! Thank you!
Krista Speec
Great quick dinner meal! My family loved it!
April
I was actually thinking about making this for dinner this week! I may just make it today! Thank you so much Krista!
Jyothi (Jo)
Anything cajun..sign me up please! Simply gorgeous and love how delicious that pasta looks!
Jyothi (Jo)
Veena Azmanov
I love Cajun spices and this sounds so flavorful. I love the smell when you cook with the Cajun seasoning. Makes the kids hungry This looks so delicious
Veena Azmanov
Danielle Wolter
I love cajun seasoning! This pasta so so creamy and delicious and perfect. Its the kind of thing I love to eat on a cold day. Or a hot day. LOL!
Cheese Curd In Paradise
I love Cajun spice and the creamy sauce is the perfect balance for me! The chicken is full of flavor and this meal is so hearty and delicious.
Cheese Curd In Paradise
Jess
Yummieee! This looks absolutely deeeelicious, and the recipe I've been searching for... I'm so excited!! April, I'm loving your site! Question: I have an old cajun spice concotion, and I can't even remember what's all in it. What do you use for yours? A particular brand, or 'recipe?' Thank you so much!
April
Hi Jess! Aww thanks so much! I usually use Slap Ya Mama cajun seasoning. I've also used another brand but I don't remember the brand right now. I think you should be okay with any type of cajun seasoning though. I will have to make my own and put it on the blog soon. I hope you enjoy it!
Mirlene | Savory Thougths
I not only love cajun recipes, I also love recipes that are done in cast iron skillets. Pasta and I have a love-hate relationship; I love it as much as it hates me. Just like you, it also shows up on my waistline. 🙁 However, this is one dish I cannot pass up. Will be adding this dish to my quick fix recipes. The creaminess is done just right! What's better than having restaurant-style dinner at home?! Great photos!
April
Mirlene, I love my trusty cast iron skillet! Thanks for stopping by!
Jessica Armstrong
I tried the recipe and I had to say it was a very quick, easy and delicious. This was my first time cooking any kind of pasta and I surprised myself at how delicious it was.
April
Thank you so much! Glad you liked it Jessica!
Sarah
I love how vibrant this dish looks! I bet the cajun flavor is killer too!
Lynne Curry
I love the story about your toddler helping himself to the cherry tomatoes! I'm still trying to get my kids to eat as many veggies as fruit. It's an uphill battle, LOL, But you will not have to coerce me to eating this delicious looking pasta dish. I'm all in!
Corina
It's a really eye-catching dish and looks delicious. I love the story about your toddler and it is funny the things young children will and won't eat. My daughter refuses to eat pasta but this week has eaten mac n cheese bites and ravioli at school. She told me the ravioli were beans so they were probably the very processed canned variety and I haven't told her yet that the mac n cheese bites do actually have pasta in!
April
Haha kids are too funny and so picky! I can't talk because I was the same way. Can you believe I actually disliked lasagna? I was missing out! I have another recipe I can't wait to post! It's basically a lacto-ovo vegetarian dish. So yummy, my kids love it! They all wanted seconds! Thanks Corina!
Nicole
Ha! Ha! I forgot how fussy toddlers can be, and by the time they are teenagers - they eat non-stop! We are really into chicken these days and loving those cajun spices, this is a must try!
Gloria @ Homemade & Yummy
I LOVE simple quick dinners like this. Those little tomatoes are tiny, delicious gems. I use them all the time. Perfect for snaking and adding to recipes. This is a great dinner any night of the week....all I need is a glass of wine and you have a VERY HAPPY girl.
Gloria @ Homemade & Yummy
Sarah James @ Tales From The Kitchen Shed
I love your fridge story April, getting young children to eat veggies can be difficult but it's great your son likes fruit, I bet it won't be long before he enjoys vegetables too. Your cajun chicken looks delicious and perfect that it comes together so quickly.
Sarah James @ Tales From The Kitchen Shed
Danielle Cushing
I love that you used a creamy sauce, but didn't overdo it. Your photos also look "restaurant quality" - awesome recipe!
April
It's a nice amount of creaminess. I don't like drowning my food in sauces and condiments. Huge pet peeve! Thanks so much Danielle!