Cajun Chicken Pasta Bell Peppers (Printable)

Creamy pasta with spicy Cajun chicken, bell peppers, and Parmesan sauce for a tasty dinner.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.1 lbs), sliced into strips
02 - 1 ½ tablespoons Cajun seasoning
03 - 1 tablespoon olive oil

→ Pasta

04 - 12 oz fettuccine or penne pasta

→ Vegetables

05 - 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
06 - 1 yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
07 - 1 green bell pepper, thinly sliced
08 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
09 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Sauce

10 - ¾ cup + 1 tablespoon heavy cream
11 - ⅓ cup + 1 tablespoon whole milk
12 - ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
13 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
14 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

→ Garnish

15 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
16 - Extra Parmesan cheese, for serving

# Directions:

01 - Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside, reserving ½ cup of pasta water.
02 - Toss the chicken strips with Cajun seasoning until evenly coated.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and sauté for 5–7 minutes, turning occasionally, until browned and cooked through. Transfer chicken to a plate and cover to keep warm.
04 - In the same skillet, add butter. Once melted, add onions and bell peppers. Sauté for 4–5 minutes until softened. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
05 - Reduce heat to medium. Pour in cream and milk, scraping up any browned bits from the pan. Bring to a gentle simmer.
06 - Stir in Parmesan cheese and whisk until melted and the sauce is smooth. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
07 - Add the cooked pasta and chicken back into the skillet. Toss everything to coat well, adding reserved pasta water as needed for a creamy consistency. Remove from heat. Sprinkle with chopped parsley and extra Parmesan before serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The spice level hits that perfect sweet spot where you feel the warmth without reaching for milk
  • Everything cooks in one skillet, meaning less cleanup and more time enjoying dinner
  • The colorful peppers make this dish look like it came from a fancy Italian restaurant
02 -
  • The pasta water is crucial for achieving that restaurant-quality sauce consistency
  • Cajun seasoning blends vary in heat levels, so taste as you go
03 -
  • Dont overcrowd the pan when cooking the chicken or it will steam instead of sear
  • Room temperature cream incorporates more smoothly into the sauce

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