One Pot Cajun Chicken Pasta

This One Pot Cajun Chicken Pasta is creamy, spicy, and quite simply delicious. Plus it’s completely dairy free! This easy pasta recipe is perfect for weeknight cooking when you want something easy but without compromising on flavour.

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 10

Total Time 30

Servings servings

Calories 878kcal

Author Sally

Ingredients

500 grams penne pasta
500 grams chicken breast or thigh fillets chopped into 2cm pieces
2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning divided (see notes)
1 small brown onion finely diced
2 cloves garlic crushed
1 cup chicken stock
1 cup coconut milk
2 tablespoons olive oil for cooking
Fresh herbs like basil and parsley chopped to serve
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

In a large, heavy based pot over high heat, bring some salted water to a boil and cook the pasta 1 minute less than package directions. You want the pasta to be just slightly undercooked. Drain and set aside.
In the same large pot, heat a tablespoon of olive oil over medium high heat, and sauté the chicken pieces with 1 tablespoon of the Cajun seasoning until the chicken is cooked through. Remove from the pot and set aside.
Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil in the pan and add in the diced onions. Sauté, using a wooden spoon to scrape any browned bits of chicken and seasoning from the bottom of the pan. Cook for 2-3 minutes or until the onion has softened. Add in the garlic and cook for another minute.
To the pot, add the chicken stock, coconut milk and additional tablespoon of Cajun seasoning. Mix together and bring to the boil.
Add the pasta and mix through for a couple of minutes until the sauce thickens and the pasta is coated. Add the chicken back to the pot and stir through to heat.
Take the pot off the heat and stir through the fresh herbs before serving. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed.

Notes

Homemade Cajun Seasoning: Combine 2 ½ tablespoons smoked paprika, 2 tablespoons garlic powder, 1 tablespoon onion powder, 1 tablespoon dried oregano, 1 tablespoon dried thyme, ½ tablespoon chilli powder, ½ tablespoon salt, ½ tablespoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper.

Store any leftover spice mix in an airtight jar or container in a cool, dry place. You can adjust the chilli quantity to your tastes. The above ratios make a lightly spiced but still mild seasoning, so for something spicy, double the chilli to 1 tablespoon.

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