Description
Creamy cajun chicken pasta blends Louisiana spice with comforting pasta textures. Rich flavors simmer together, delivering a hearty meal that satisfies hungry families with minimal kitchen effort.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 12 oz (340 g) penne pasta
- 3 cups (720 ml) chicken broth
- 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
- 1 cup (100 g) shredded Parmesan cheese
- 8 oz (226 g) cream cheese, softened
- 1 bell pepper, sliced
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsps Cajun seasoning
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Coat chicken breasts thoroughly with Cajun seasoning, ensuring even coverage.
- Transfer seasoned chicken into crock pot and pour chicken broth over the meat.
- Add diced onions and minced garlic around the chicken pieces, creating a flavorful base.
- Slow cook on low temperature for 4-5 hours or high temperature for 2-3 hours until chicken is completely tender.
- Remove chicken and shred directly inside the crock pot using two forks, creating pulled-style meat pieces.
- Incorporate heavy cream, softened cream cheese, and Parmesan cheese, stirring until mixture becomes creamy and smooth.
- Pour uncooked penne pasta and sliced bell peppers into the creamy sauce, ensuring ingredients are well distributed.
- Continue cooking for 30-40 minutes, gently stirring occasionally to prevent pasta from sticking.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with additional Cajun spice, salt, and pepper according to preference.
- Once pasta reaches desired tenderness, turn off crock pot and let mixture rest for 5 minutes.
- Serve immediately in warm bowls, optionally garnishing with fresh Parmesan cheese or chopped parsley.
Notes
- Choose low-sodium chicken broth to control salt levels and create a healthier version of the dish.
- Use gluten-free penne pasta to make the recipe suitable for those with gluten sensitivities.
- Add a splash of white wine for deeper flavor complexity and a gourmet touch.
- Consider reducing cream cheese and using Greek yogurt for a lighter, protein-rich alternative.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours (on Low) or 4 hours (on High)
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 457 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 570 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg