Cajun Cream Cheese Chicken Pasta (Print-Friendly Version)

Cajun-inspired baked chicken pasta with a creamy, cheesy sauce and a spicy kick—perfect comfort food for any night.

# What You’ll Need to Make This:

→ Main Components

01 - 340 grams penne or rotini pasta
02 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 2 cm cubes

→ Seasonings and Aromatics

03 - 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
04 - 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
05 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
06 - 3 garlic cloves, minced
07 - 1 teaspoon paprika
08 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Sauce and Cheese

09 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
10 - 225 grams cream cheese, softened
11 - 240 millilitres heavy cream
12 - 240 millilitres chicken broth
13 - 120 grams cheddar cheese, shredded
14 - 50 grams Parmesan cheese, grated

→ Garnish

15 - Chopped fresh parsley, optional

# How to Prepare:

01 - Set oven to 190°C and allow it to fully preheat.
02 - Cook pasta in a large pot of generously salted boiling water according to package instructions until al dente. Drain well and set aside.
03 - In a large non-stick skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add cubed chicken and Cajun seasoning, stirring to coat. Cook for 5–7 minutes until chicken is golden and fully cooked through. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
04 - In the same skillet, add diced onion, red bell pepper, and minced garlic. Sauté for 3–4 minutes until softened and fragrant.
05 - Add softened cream cheese to the skillet, stirring until melted and smooth. Pour in heavy cream and chicken broth, stirring constantly to combine. Add shredded cheddar, Parmesan, paprika, salt, and pepper. Stir until cheeses are melted and sauce is creamy.
06 - Return cooked chicken to the skillet and add drained pasta. Mix thoroughly so all components are evenly coated in sauce.
07 - Lightly grease a 33 x 23 cm baking dish. Spoon the pasta mixture into the dish, spreading evenly.
08 - Bake in the preheated oven for 20–25 minutes until the top is golden and sauce is bubbling.
09 - Remove from oven and allow to rest for a few minutes. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve immediately while hot.

# Extra Tips:

01 - For a spicier dish, increase the amount of Cajun seasoning or add a pinch of cayenne pepper.
02 - Substitute half-and-half for heavy cream to reduce richness if desired.
03 - This bake can be assembled ahead and refrigerated before baking; if baking from chilled, add 5–10 minutes to the cooking time.

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