Homemade Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta is such a simple and quick recipe, perfect for weeknight dinners. Juicy chicken breast tossed in tender pasta in a creamy cajun garlic sauce.

All you need is a slice of Focaccia Bread to soak up the creamy sauce, plus a simple Caesar Salad for a memorable pasta night.

Cajun chicken pasta in a deep skillet topped with fresh greens and parmesan cheese.

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Copycat Cajun Chicken Pasta Recipe

We love recreating our favorite recipes and this copycat recipe for Chili’s Cajun Chicken Pasta recipe is going to become a family favorite!

Creamy pasta with pieces of tender and juicy cajun flavored chicken in the most delicious homemade cajun sauce. You will love all the flavors from the dish and it comes together in under 30 minutes so it’s perfect for busy weeknights. I’m excited to add this to our long lineup of 30-minute meals.

Cajun chicken pasta unmixed in a white deep skillet topped with fresh greens.

Ingredients

  • Pasta – For this recipe, we used linguine pasta but you can use any type of pasta: angel hair, linguine, fettuccine, elbow, macaroni, penne, bow tie pasta will all work great.
  • Chicken – We used chicken breasts but chicken thighs will work as well.
  • Cajun Seasoning– You can use your favorite store-bought cajun seasoning. You’ll also need salt and pepper.
  • Garlic– Freshly minced or finely chopped garlic will give the best flavor, but you can substitute with 1 tsp dried garlic, or add it to taste.
  • Butter – for sauteing garlic and adds flavor to the sauce.
  • Heavy Whipping Cream – Makes the sauce rich and creamy.
  • Parmesan – Grated parmesan cheese or shredded parmesan will work great.
All the ingredients needed to make this homemade creamy cajun chicken pasta.

How to Make Cajun Chicken Pasta

  1. Cook Pasta – boil in a pot of salted water until al dente, according to the package instructions.
  2. Prepare Chicken – Using a meat mallet or the bottom of a saucepan, pound the chicken breasts into an even thickness and season both sides with cajun seasoning. Saute the chicken in a skillet with oil until fully cooked then slice into strips.
  3. Make the Sauce – In a deep skillet, saute the garlic in butter 30-60 seconds or until fragrant. Add the diced tomatoes and saute for about 2 minutes. Add the cream, remaining cajun seasoning, and parmesan cheese and bring to a simmer.
  4. Combine – Add the pasta and sliced chicken to the sauce and toss to combine.
  5. Serve – Top with parmesan and parsley to serve.

Pro Tip: You can adjust the spiciness in the pasta by adding more or less of the Cajun seasoning.

Step by step collage of how to make homemade Cajun pasta with tender and juicy chicken.

Variations and Add-Ins

  • Vegetables – you can add cooked broccoli or asparagus to the pasta when tossing everything together.
  • Vegetarian pasta – leave out the chicken or substitute chicken with mushrooms.
  • Substitute the chicken – try sliced sausage or kielbasa instead of chicken. You can also make it a seafood pasta like our Cajun Shrimp Pasta.
  • Lighter pasta – try using half and half or light cream to cut the calories, but keep in mind the sauce will be thinner.
Creamy cajun chicken pasta in a skillet topped with fresh chopped greens and grated parmesan cheese.

This restaurant copycat Cajun Chicken Pasta recipe is sure to please. If you love comforting pasta dishes, check out the list below for more dinner inspiration.

More Pasta Recipes

Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook

Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta

5 from 1254 votes
Author: Valentina Ablaev
Cajun Chicken Pasta Recipe in Pan
Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta is such a simple and quick recipe, perfect for weeknight dinners. Juicy chicken breast tossed with tender pasta in a creamy cajun garlic sauce, ready in 30 minutes.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients 

Servings: 6 servings
  • 8 oz linguine pasta
  • 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 2 tsp olive oil
  • 2 Tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1 1/2 to 2 Tbsp cajun seasoning, divided, (or added to taste depending on the brand you use*)
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2/3 cup diced tomatoes
  • 1 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 2 Tbsp parsley, finely chopped, to serve

Instructions

  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add 1 Tbsp salt. Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water then drain, cover, and keep warm.
  • Beat the chicken breasts so that they are even in thickness and season all over with 1½ Tbsp cajun seasoning.
  • In a large non-reactive skillet*, heat 2 tsp oil over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the chicken and sear on both sides. Turn heat down to low and saute until cooked through and 165˚F on a thermometer. Transfer to a cutting board, slice into thin strips, and cover to keep warm.
  • In the same skillet over medium heat, saute the butter and garlic for 30-60 seconds or until the garlic is fragrant. Add the diced tomatoes and saute another 2 minutes.
  • Add in the heavy whipping cream, add remaining cajun seasoning to taste, and parmesan cheese, and bring to a simmer. Season to taste if needed.
  • Add the sliced chicken and cooked pasta to the sauce and toss until combined and pasta and chicken are warmed through. Add warm reserved pasta water if desired to thin the sauce. Serve with freshly grated parmesan and chopped parsley.

Notes

*Avoid using cast iron or copper pans anytime you are making a creamy sauce with an acidic product like tomato or it will react and make the sauce grainy. 
*If you are using a cajun seasoning that has a high salt content, start with half of the seasoning and add more to taste. 

Nutrition Per Serving

480kcal Calories34g Carbs18g Protein31g Fat18g Saturated Fat2g Polyunsaturated Fat8g Monounsaturated Fat0.2g Trans Fat109mg Cholesterol214mg Sodium413mg Potassium2g Fiber4g Sugar2368IU Vitamin A6mg Vitamin C142mg Calcium2mg Iron
Nutrition Facts
Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta
Amount per Serving
Calories
480
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
31
g
48
%
Saturated Fat
 
18
g
113
%
Trans Fat
 
0.2
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
2
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
8
g
Cholesterol
 
109
mg
36
%
Sodium
 
214
mg
9
%
Potassium
 
413
mg
12
%
Carbohydrates
 
34
g
11
%
Fiber
 
2
g
8
%
Sugar
 
4
g
4
%
Protein
 
18
g
36
%
Vitamin A
 
2368
IU
47
%
Vitamin C
 
6
mg
7
%
Calcium
 
142
mg
14
%
Iron
 
2
mg
11
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Cajun
Keyword: cajun chicken pasta
Skill Level: Easy
Cost to Make: $$
Calories: 480

Valentina Ablaev

I am Valentina, the creator behind the food blog Valentina’s Corner where I share our family’s favorite recipes. When I am not in the kitchen, I enjoy spending quality time with my husband and 5 children. We invite you to join us on our blogging journey!

Read more posts by Valentina

Leave a Comment

Recipe Rating




Comments

  • Zach
    March 25, 2024

    Delicious recipe. If you want to give it another flavor profile, add a diced red bell pepper the same time you do the tomatoes. One of my favorite dishes to make, one of the few I actually get a craving for.

    Reply

  • Sally
    March 25, 2024

    I quadrupled this recipe for a large group and made it in a large stock pot. I noticed on the stovetop the bottom layer of the noodles stuck when I kept it on warm for awhile. Once I am finished cooking, can I instead transfer it to a large crockpot on warm for a couple of hours? Should I grease the crockpot so the noodles don’t stick?

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      March 26, 2024

      Hi Sally. I think it would work well to keep this dish warm in a crockpot. You may spray it to be safe.

      Reply

  • Mary Pape
    March 20, 2024

    I’m struggling with lack of energy from my Long Covid, but this recipe from Natasha’s Kitchen looked so good that I made it using cheats – Frozen Grilled Chicken, Buitoni Alfredo Sauce and Buitoni Linguini. I am really trying to make one-pot meals while I’m recovering, so I added frozen onions, peas and carrots and some black olives, as well as a can of Rotel and Tony Chacherre’s More Spice Creole Seasoning because I love spicy food! This is OUTSTANDING!!! I will probably get 6-8 meals with my lack of appetite! I can’t wait until I am well and can follow the original recipe!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      March 20, 2024

      Hi Mary! That’s great. I’m so glad you loved the recipe. I hope you recover soon!

      Reply

  • Ryleigh
    March 20, 2024

    Haven’t made this yet but giving it five stars anyways because it looks good and I have a question – could this still come out okay if I use cream cheese? I love cream cheese in pasta and don’t have any heavy whipping cream, only cream cheese. I’d think that it would still work good (potentially be even better because I absolutely love cream cheese) but I’m worried to try it and it gets messed up 😩

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      March 20, 2024

      Hi Ryleigh! Without testing it, I can’t advise. Generally, cream cheese melts well and works well with pasta but it is thicker and won’t have the same consistency of heavy cream. I’m sorry I can’t be more help. Let us know how it turns out if you experiment.

      Reply

  • Indycook
    March 17, 2024

    Tried this for the first time tonight and I’m so glad that I did. My cooking skills are pretty limited, but this was easy to follow and a hit with the whole family. We like spice so I used a can of rotel in place of the tomato. I think all add some fresh spinach and mushrooms next time. Thanks for the easy and delicious dinner.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      March 17, 2024

      You’re so welcome! Thank you for sharing that with us. Keep up the excellent work!

      Reply

  • Hudson
    March 14, 2024

    Love, love, love this. I mix together my own Cajun seasoning from a recipe on the internet. Use penne and cut the chicken into cubes first. Season the chicken and cook on medium. Instant entry into weekly lineup. Necessitates a few more minutes on the treadmill, but so worth it.

    Reply

  • Shelly
    March 13, 2024

    I made this for dinner tonight as written. Both my husband and I loved it!!

    Reply

  • Alondra Trujillo
    March 13, 2024

    OH THIS WAS AMAZING. I’m the worst cook ever but I made this and it came out perfect, I made it a little too spicy so now I know next time! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

    Reply

  • Sylvia
    March 10, 2024

    I grill the chicken breasts but other than that, I follow the recipe exact. DELICIOUS!!!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      March 10, 2024

      Sounds good! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply

  • Nancy M
    March 8, 2024

    This is delicious! Followed recipe exactly except cut everything in half. I used Tony Chachere’s Bold Creole Seasoning because I didn’t want the cream to eliminate all the heat, and seasoned the breasts generously on both sides. Perfect meal for 2. Thank you for this!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      March 8, 2024

      You’re welcome! I’m so happy you loved it, Nancy! & thank you for your awesome review.

      Reply

  • Tiffany Campbell
    March 6, 2024

    So in loveeeeeee with this recipe!!!! About to make it again 😋

    Reply

  • MYavinsky
    March 1, 2024

    Huge hit in my house! I used canned fire roasted diced tomatoes and it was great! Can not wait to make again!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      March 1, 2024

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply

  • Kristen Wager
    February 15, 2024

    So I made this recipe with a few changes. I thought I had Cajun seasoning, but I mistook that for creole seasoning. Oops, but it turned out pretty tasty regardless. I also seasoned my chicken with flour and the creole seasoning, it made it a bit more crispy.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      February 15, 2024

      Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Kristen! I so glad it was still tasty.

      Reply

  • Mary
    February 11, 2024

    First time commentator but have been following this blog for a long time.

    This is legit one of the recipes I cook often. Instructions are clear and it tastes SO GOOD.

    Natasha always has the best recipes.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      February 11, 2024

      Thank you for your kind words, Mary. It means a lot to me!

      Reply

  • Jackie
    February 2, 2024

    This was amazing! Definitely adding this to our rotation. 🙂

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      February 2, 2024

      That’s great, Jackie! I’m glad you found one to repeat!

      Reply

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