Kitchen notes · a little help before you start
Cajun Chicken Pasta
Slices of Cajun-seasoned chicken over creamy penne make an inviting plate, with the spice against a mellow Parmesan sauce. Fresh tomato and green onion finish the top. Toss the pasta while the sauce is warm, then lay the chicken over it for a generous dinner.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 25 min
- Total
- 40 min
- Original yield
- Serves 4
- Ingredients
- 12 listed
Make it part of your week
Recipe categories & planning details
- Meal type
- Main course
- Primary protein
- Chicken
- Cuisine
- Cajun · American
- Cooking method
- Grilling
- Preparation & total time
- Prep: 15 minutes or less · Total: 31–60 minutes
- Dish type
- Pasta
A few quick notes
1. Season both chicken sides
Drizzle oil over the chicken and season both sides before placing it on the preheated grill, grill pan or skillet.
2. Make sauce alongside
While chicken cooks, simmer the cream and butter in a small pot, stirring until the sauce is thick enough to coat a spoon.
3. Melt cheese before tossing
Stir Parmesan into the thickened cream sauce and let it melt before combining that sauce with the cooked penne.
Get to know the ingredients
Penne pasta
Cook penne in salted water according to its package, separately from the chicken and small-pot cream sauce before the final toss.
Heavy cream
The heavy cream simmers with butter and seasoning until spoon-coating consistency, forming the base before Parmesan is added.
Fresh tomato topping
Dice the tomatoes for the finished plate. They are sprinkled over the sauced pasta and sliced chicken with green onion and Parmesan.
Let’s make it
Choose your servings, then check things off as you go.
Original recipe: Serves 4. Original quantities shown.
Check ingredients as you prepare them. These checks stay on this page.
How to make it
0 of 8 steps completeMake room for Cajun Chicken Pasta
Review ingredients in your pantry before anything is added. Meal plans use your household size; grocery-only additions use the servings selected above.
The last little job
Arrange the sliced chicken
Toss penne with sauce, lay sliced chicken over it and sprinkle with tomato, green onion, extra Parmesan and Cajun seasoning.
A little more help as you go
Medium-high cooking surface
Preheat the chosen grill, grill pan or skillet to medium-high before adding the seasoned chicken for its cooking stage.
Cut after cooking through
Cook the chicken through on each side before slicing it, leaving the slices ready to arrange over the creamy penne.
A few questions you might have
Can I use a skillet for the chicken?
Yes. A grill, grill pan or skillet are all offered, preheated to medium-high before cooking the seasoned chicken.
What texture should the sauce reach?
Simmer while stirring until it is thick enough to coat a spoon, then stir in Parmesan and let it melt.
Are the green onions cooked in the sauce?
Keep sliced green onions for the final topping with tomatoes and extra cheese, after saucing the pasta and arranging chicken.
Does all the Parmesan go over the top?
Half a cup melts into the sauce first. Additional shredded Parmesan is used for garnish when the plate is assembled.
How is the chicken arranged for serving?
Cut the cooked chicken into slices and place over the sauced pasta, then add the fresh tomato and green onion toppings.
Storage & reheating safety
For cooked, perishable leftovers, refrigerate within 2 hours (1 hour above 90°F), using shallow containers for prompt cooling. Keep the refrigerator at 40°F or below, use refrigerated leftovers within 3–4 days, and reheat hot leftovers to 165°F, checked with a food thermometer. Follow any shorter package limit.
These are general safety limits, not a tested storage or freezing recommendation for this particular dish. USDA leftovers guidance · Safe cooking temperatures
Recipe source: dinneratthezoo.com. Ingredient names and quantities may be adapted for the pantry.
Preparation notes follow the recipe shown here.
