Weeknight Cajun Chicken Pasta Food

EASY CAJUN CHICKEN PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
• Halve the chicken breasts horizontally (resulting in two thin fillets) then season generously on both sides with the Cajun seasoning.
• Heat a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add a splash of oil then add the chicken. Cook for a few minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
• By this time, the water should be boiling. Add the pasta and cook until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of cooking water before draining.
• In the same pan the chicken was cooked in, add the butter, onion and garlic. Cook for a few minutes until soft and translucent.
• Add the Cajun seasoning and stir into the onions. Pour in the cream and lemon juice then bring to a gentle simmer. Cook for a few minutes until the sauce thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon. Reduce the heat and add the Parmesan. Stir until the sauce is smooth then season to taste.
• Toss the drained pasta with the creamy sauce. Add a few tablespoons of pasta water. Stir to coat the pasta in the sauce, and add more water if you want it to be saucier. Feel free to add more grated Parmesan too. Slice the chicken thinly then add to the pasta.
• Serve topped with chopped parsley and extra Parmesan.

CAJUN CHICKEN PASTA

Steps:

• Cook pasta: Cook the pasta according to package instructions until it's al dente (cooked until it's still firm when bitten). Drain and set aside.
• Cook Chicken: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add the chicken to the skillet, then sprinkle with the cajun seasoning and season with salt and pepper. Cook until the chicken is no longer pink and is cooked through, should take about 5 minutes.
• Add sausage: Stir in the sausage and cook for a couple more minutes until the sausage starts to brown.
• Add garlic and parsley: Add the garlic, parsley to the skillet and stir. Cook for 30 seconds until the garlic becomes aromatic.
• Add half and half: Add the half and half and cook until it comes to a boil. Stir in the parmesan cheese.
• Stir in pasta: Add the penne and stir everything together.
• Garnish and serve: Garnish with more parmesan cheese and parsley if preferred and serve while warm.

ONE-POT CAJUN CHICKEN PASTA

Steps:

• Heat the oil in large wide pot over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and Cajun seasoning and cook, stirring occasionally, until the chicken just starts to change color and the spices are toasted, about 2 minutes.
• Add the peppers and onions and cook until they just begin to release some of their juices, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook until softened, 1 minute.
• Add the pasta, chicken broth and tomatoes and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. When it boils, continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is al dente and the sauce is thickened and reduced by about half, about 15 minutes.
• Remove from the heat and add the cream cheese and 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt. Stir until the cream cheese is combined and melted. Don't worry if the sauce looks runny, it will thicken as it sits. Top with sliced scallions.

CREAMY CAJUN CHICKEN PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add 1 Tbsp salt. Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water then drain, cover, and keep warm.
• Beat the chicken breasts so that they are even in thickness and season all over with 1½ Tbsp cajun seasoning.
• In a large non-reactive skillet*, heat 2 tsp oil over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the chicken and sear on both sides. Turn heat down to low and saute until cooked through and 165˚F on a thermometer. Transfer to a cutting board, slice into thin strips, and cover to keep warm.
• In the same skillet over medium heat, saute the butter and garlic for 30-60 seconds or until the garlic is fragrant. Add the diced tomatoes and saute another 2 minutes.
• Add in the heavy whipping cream, remaining cajun seasoning, and parmesan cheese, and bring to a simmer. Season to taste if needed.
• Add the sliced chicken and cooked pasta to the sauce and toss until combined and pasta and chicken are warmed through. Add warm reserved pasta water if desired to thin the sauce. Serve with freshly grated parmesan and chopped parsley.

CAJUN CHICKEN PASTA

Steps:

• Cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain when the pasta is still al dente; do not overcook!
• Sprinkle 1 1/2 teaspoons Cajun spice (or more) over the chicken cubes. Toss around to coat. Heat 1 tablespoon butter and 1 tablespoon oil in a heavy skillet over high heat. Add half the chicken in a single layer; do not stir. Allow the chicken to brown on one side, about 1 minute. Flip to the other side and cook an additional minute. Remove with a slotted spoon and place on a clean plate. Repeat with the remaining chicken. Remove the chicken, leaving the skillet on high heat. Add the remaining butter and olive oil. When heated, add the garlic, peppers and onions. Sprinkle on the remaining Cajun spice, and add salt if needed. Cook over high heat for 1 minute, stirring gently and trying to get the vegetables as dark/black as possible. Add the tomatoes and cook for an additional 30 seconds. Remove all the vegetables from the skillet.
• With the skillet still over high heat, pour in the chicken broth and wine. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes, scraping the bottom of the pan to deglaze. Reduce the heat to medium-low and pour in the cream, stirring/whisking constantly. Cook the sauce over medium-low heat for a few minutes, until the cream starts to thicken the mixture. Taste and add freshly ground black pepper, cayenne pepper, and/or salt to taste. The sauce should be spicy!
• Finally, add the chicken and vegetables to the sauce, making sure to include all the juices that have drained onto the plate. Stir and cook until the mixture is bubbly and hot, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the drained fettuccine and toss to combine.
• Top with chopped fresh parsley and chow down!

WEEKNIGHT CAJUN CHICKEN PASTA

Steps:

• Place chopped chicken and cajun seasoning in a bowl and toss until evenly coated.
• In a large skillet over medium heat, sautée chicken in butter until tender. (Make sure chicken is 'flaky' all the way through).
• Reduce heat and add heavy cream, green onion, tomatoes, basil, salt, garlic powder, and half of the parmesan cheese. Bring heat back to medium to a slight simmer and heat through until sauce begins to thicken.
• Gently mix in cooked pasta and stir in remaining parmesan cheese. Alternatively you can pour the mixture over plated noodles.
• Let your body melt in heavenly goodness.

CAJUN CHICKEN PASTA

Steps:

• Cook linguine until al dente.
• Coat chicken with Cajun seasonings and sauté until cooked.
• Add peppers, mushrooms and green onions; cook for 2-3 minutes.
• Reduce heat and stir in heavy cream.
• Add seasonings and heat through.
• Serve over linguine and top with Parmesan cheese.

CREAMY CAJUN CHICKEN PASTA

Steps:

• Place chicken and Cajun seasoning in a bowl and toss to coat.
• In a large skillet over medium heat, sauté chicken in butter or margarine until chicken is tender, about 5 to 7 minutes.
• Reduce heat add green onion, heavy cream, tomatoes, basil, salt, garlic powder, black pepper and heat through.
• Pour over hot linguine and toss with Parmesan cheese.

LIGHT AND HEARTY CAJUN CHICKEN PASTA

Steps:

• Cook the pasta in a large amount of boiling water until al dente; drain and set aside.
• Sprinkle the chicken with 2 t of the Cajun seasoning and mix until coated evenly.
• Spray a large nonstick skillet with nonstick cooking spray and heat over medium-high heat.
• Add the chicken to the hot pan and cook for 2 minutes without stirring.
• When the chicken is lightly browned on one side, stir it to cook the other side (leaving it to cook without stirring helps to keep it from sticking).
• Cook for about 5 more minutes, or until no longer pink inside.
• Remove from the pan and keep warm.
• Spray the pan again with the nonstick cooking spray and add the olive oil.
• Over medium-high heat, add the peppers, mushrooms and 2 of the green onions.
• Cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Stir in the lemon pepper, basil, garlic powder, remaining teaspoon of Cajun seasoning and the salt.
• Then add the half-and-half, bring to a boil and add the chicken.
• Stir until coated and warm.
• Add the pasta and toss to coat.
• Garnish with remaining green onions.

CREAMY CAJUN "CHICKEN" PASTA (VEGETARIAN CHICKEN)

Steps:

• Add Cajun Seasoning to a medium sized bowl.
• Spray thawed chik'n pieces with a little bit of Pam and toss in bowl to coat with seasoning.
• In a large skillet over medium heat, sauté chik'n pieces in butter until heated through, about 2-3 minutes.
• Reduce heat and add green onion, heavy cream, sun dried tomatoes, basil, salt, garlic powder, black pepper and heat through until sauce slightly thickens. If the sauce gets too thick you can just add more milk and stir.
• Pour over hot pasta and toss,with Parmesan cheese.

CAJUN CHICKEN PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil.
• Add linguine, and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, or until al dente; drain.
• Meanwhile, place chicken and Cajun seasoning in a bowl, and toss to coat.
• In a large skillet over medium heat, sauté chicken in butter until no longer pink and juices run clear, about 5 to 7 minutes.
• Add green bell pepper, red bell pepper, mushrooms and green onion; cook for 2 to 3 minutes.
• Reduce heat, and stir in heavy cream.
• Season the sauce with dried basil, lemon pepper, salt, garlic powder and ground black pepper, and heat through.
• In a large bowl, toss linguini with sauce.
• Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese.