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.
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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.
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.
How to Make Cajun Chicken Pasta
- Cook Pasta – boil in a pot of salted water until al dente, according to the package instructions.
- 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.
- 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.
- Combine – Add the pasta and sliced chicken to the sauce and toss to combine.
- 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.
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.
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
Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta
Ingredients
- 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.
Came out soo delicious! I used spinach linguini in place for the pasta.
I’m so glad you loved it!
This meal was amazing! Best creamy chicken pasta I’ve ever had. I will have to follow you for more recipes!
Aaaw, thank you so much for your awesome feedback! I’m happy that you loved it!
Could this be made with rotisserie chicken for a shortcut or is it better to take the extra time?
Can’t wait to try it, I love all of your recipes!
Hi Meg, I think that will work just fine. If you try that, please share with us how it goes.
This was delicious.
For me, I would have added a bunch of veggies, but my daughter is not a fan lol.
Will keep this recipe close!
It is so versatile so feel free to try it with the veggies version next time. I’m glad you both enjoyed this recipe!
just awesome and so easy, thank you! I’m sharing with my friends, everyone needs to try this.
That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite, Tammy! Thank you for saying this with your friends!
Made this tonight and it was delicious! I like to prep ahead and then it is a quick easy meal. I reduced calories for me by adding sautéed mushrooms and reducing my pasta consumption. Mushrooms with this sauce were perfect.
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review!
I’m a fan of many of your recipes. This one is so good and so easy to make. It’s a perfect weeknight meal! Keep sharing your recipes!
It really is the perfect weeknight recipe! I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Joanna!
I’m making this for the first time. Only found whipping cream not heavy whipping cream. Will it matter?
Hi Pamela, I think that will work just fine too. Please share with us how it goes if you give this recipe a try!
Whipping creme and heavy cream are same thing. The carton I have in my fridge right now is called heavy whipping creme
Hi Sindy, Heavy whipping cream has a higher fat count than whipping cream, and depending on the use of the cream and how rich you want your dish I would use one over the other, especially when baking. Both whipping cream and heavy whipping cream should work great here.
Hi Natasha,
What cajun seasoning do you like to use?
Thanks
Hi Adriana, You can use your favorite store-bought cajun seasoning.
This recipe was a hit with my family! Everyone absolutely loved it! Making it again for my parents for don’t tomorrow!! Can’t wait to see their reaction !!!
They’re going to love it! I’m glad to hear this was a hit with your family!
Thank you for this! It was very good…I ate more than I should have 😆! You’re recipes are all so good…haven’t come across one that I haven’t made at least twice yet. This one is a new favorite and goes in the recipe book! Well done!
Awesome! I’m glad you enjoyed this pasta recipe, Christy.
This dish is amazing!! It was quick and easy! My family loved it and my little one kept asking for more! Thank you for being such an incredible cook! You have an amazing gift! I appreciate you share and helping us learn your ways!
That is the best when kids love what we moms make. That’s so great, Melissa! Thanks for your awesome review!
This was DELICIOUS!!! … and so easy to make..my new favorite!
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us, Amy!
Help. What did I do wrong. My sauce did not get smooth.It never would blend. The taste was very good though. Thanks for any help!
Hi Janice, one thing to consider is did you use a reactive pan? See the note at the bottom of the print-friendly recipe card that I added. I hope that helps to figure out what happened. Also, make sure to use the ingredients listed and not a lighter cream.
If I make this with chicken breasts, do I season the chicken breast the same way? Or do I put the seasoning into the sauce?
Hi Liana, we used chicken breast for this recipe! See step #2: “Beat the chicken breasts so that they are even in thickness and season all over with 1½ Tbsp cajun seasoning”.
I am making this recipe tonight. It sounds wonderful! I only have one question what do you do with the reserved pasta water. It doesn’t say in recipe unless I am missing it.
Hi Teresa, sorry I missed that note, but just added it in step 6 to say: “Add warm reserved pasta water if desired to thin the sauce.”
The whole family loved this! I didn’t have heavy whipping cream. Instead, I made a roux with flour and almond milk and it worked like a charm! Thank you for another amazing recipe!
Love it! Thank you for sharing that with us, great to hear that your mixture and experiment worked well!
This is one of our favorites meals!! We love the cajun flavor & it’s so creamy!! My picky eaters even love it!
I’m so happy to hear that even your picky eaters loved it. Thank you Kristyn!
This creamy cajun pasta was the perfect blend of heat, creaminess, and textures! So dang good!
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us, Andrea!
This was such an incredible meal! The flavors were amazing! We loved every bite!
Thank you for sharing that lovely review with us!