Cajun Chicken Pasta Peppers (Printable)

Creamy pasta with spiced chicken strips, bell peppers, and a silky sauce for a tasty weeknight dinner.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

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

→ Pasta

04 - 12 oz penne or fettuccine 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 - 3/4 cup + 1 tablespoon heavy cream
11 - 1/3 cup chicken broth
12 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
13 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
14 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Garnish

15 - Fresh parsley, chopped
16 - Extra Parmesan cheese, for serving

# Directions:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside, reserving ½ cup of the pasta water.
02 - Toss the chicken strips with Cajun seasoning until well coated.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned chicken and sauté for 5–7 minutes until golden and cooked through. Remove chicken and set aside.
04 - In the same skillet, add a splash of oil if needed, then sauté the bell peppers and onion for 3–4 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute more.
05 - Add the chicken back to the pan. Pour in the heavy cream and chicken broth, stirring to combine. Add the smoked paprika and bring the sauce to a gentle simmer.
06 - Stir in the Parmesan cheese until melted and the sauce is creamy. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
07 - Add the drained pasta to the skillet, tossing to coat thoroughly. Add reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce.
08 - Serve immediately, garnished with fresh parsley and extra Parmesan.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The Cajun spice crust on the chicken creates incredible flavor and keeps the meat juicy
  • This dish comes together in under an hour but tastes like it simmered all day
  • The colorful peppers make this pasta look stunning on the plate
02 -
  • Do not skip the pasta water because that starchy liquid is the secret to making your sauce cling perfectly to every bite
  • The Cajun seasoning can vary by brand so taste a tiny bit first and adjust based on your spice tolerance
03 -
  • Pre slice all your vegetables before starting the chicken so you can move seamlessly from searing to sautéing
  • Let your cream come to room temperature before adding it to the hot pan to prevent any risk of separating

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