Description
Cajun Cream Cheese Chicken Pasta Bake delivers a spicy, creamy comfort meal straight from Louisiana’s kitchen to your dinner table. Packed with zesty seasonings and melted cheese, this hearty dish turns a weeknight dinner into a Southern-style feast.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 1 lb chicken breasts
- 1 lb penne or rotini pasta
Supporting Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 medium onion
- 1 red bell pepper
- 3 cloves garlic
Seasonings and Dairy:
- 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- Salt
- Pepper
Garnish:
- Fresh parsley
Instructions
- Salt 12 oz pasta water generously and cook according to package directions at a rolling boil for 8-9 minutes. Drain pasta completely in a colander.
- Pat 1 lb chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Coat thoroughly with 2 tbsp Cajun seasoning, ensuring even coverage.
- Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat for 2 minutes. Sauté seasoned chicken cubes for 6-7 minutes until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Remove chicken and set aside. In the same skillet, sauté 1 diced onion and 1 diced red bell pepper for 3-4 minutes until softened.
- Add 3 minced garlic cloves to the skillet. Cook for 45 seconds until fragrant, stirring constantly to prevent burning.
- Reduce heat to medium-low. Whisk 8 oz softened cream cheese into the skillet until mostly smooth.
- Pour 1 cup heavy cream and 1 cup chicken broth into the skillet. Stir continuously until sauce becomes creamy and uniform.
- Season sauce with 1 tsp paprika, salt, and pepper. Sprinkle 1 cup cheddar and ½ cup Parmesan cheese, stirring until completely melted.
- Fold cooked chicken and drained pasta into the creamy sauce, ensuring everything gets evenly coated.
- Transfer mixture to a greased 9×13 inch baking dish. Spread contents evenly across the dish.
- Bake at 350°F for 18-20 minutes until top turns golden and sauce bubbles around edges.
- Let rest for 5 minutes after removing from oven. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley before serving.
Notes
- Choose a bold Cajun seasoning for a more intense flavor profile that really pops in the dish.
- Swap cream cheese with dairy-free alternatives like cashew cream if preparing for lactose-intolerant friends.
- Ensure chicken is cut into uniform cubes so each piece cooks evenly and stays tender during baking.
- Make the dish gluten-free by substituting regular pasta with chickpea or rice pasta for added nutrition.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 610 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 40 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 43 g
- Cholesterol: 140 mg