Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta

Ready for a restaurant-worthy dinner that you can put together in 30 minutes? 8 ingredients are all you need and you'll end up with this creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta that will make your kitchen smell like sauteed heaven. No need to worry about planning ahead or marinating—just rub your chicken with our easy-to-make Cajun Seasoning and you're ready to cook. This is a recipe for perfection, but since we can't really give a recipe the title 'perfection', we'll just say that our Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta is perfect for your family dinner.

Serve this with a Arugula salad And Homemade breadsticks For a full restaurant-quality meal.

Cajun Seasoning is one that we love so much that we decided to make our own. We like to keep a small bottle or bag of this in the pantry. These days you can find Cajun spice blends at most grocery stores, but making your own allows you complete control of flavor. Want a little more kick? Add some extra cayenne pepper. Like that onion taste? Add a little more onion powder. There are many variations of Cajun seasoning, so play around with it until you find a blend that makes your taste buds sing like the bayou in the night.

Material notes

• Chicken breast: For faster cooking, cut chicken breasts in half lengthwise. Slice horizontally, keeping the knife parallel to the cutting board.
• Cajun Seasoning: This mixture can be purchased in the spice aisle at most grocery stores, but we prefer to make our own. Give it a try – Homemade Cajun Seasoning.
• Language: Spaghetti is slightly thicker than noodles with a flat surface similar to fettuccine. You can also use spaghetti or fettuccine. We did it with three!
• Bell Pepper: For quick slicing, cut off the top and bottom of the pepper, then take the round piece you're left with and cut it in half. Lay each slice flat on a cutting board, remove the seeds and white membrane, then slice into long strips.
• Red Onion: It gets sweeter as it cooks and adds more color to the dish.
• Mushrooms: Cremini or white mushrooms work great. Find them in the refrigerated area of ​​your grocery store's produce section.
• Heavy Cream: Also labeled heavy whipping cream. If you need to lighten things up you can use half but it will be a thinner sauce.

Perfect sear

Getting that perfect sear on your chicken is easier than you think! Strategy? A hot skillet and a little patience. Heat your pan to medium-high before adding the chicken so it sears right away, locking in all those juices. Don't crowd the pan – give each piece its place and let it sit for about 2 minutes before flipping it over. That way you get that golden-brown crust everyone loves! Once boiling, reduce heat to medium-low to cook the inside without burning the outside. Always check that the internal temperature hits 165°F before removing from the heat.

Adjust the heat level

If you like a spicy kick, there are plenty of ways to turn up the heat in this dish! Increase the amount of cayenne pepper in your Cajun seasoning or add a pinch of cayenne pepper to your veggies. You can even drizzle some into your favorite hot sauce for an extra punch. For those who prefer a milder flavor, omit the cayenne pepper in homemade Cajun seasoning or choose a pre-made seasoning blend labeled as mild.