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
- Stuffed Shells
- Baked Ziti
- Homemade Gnocchi
- Chicken Tetrazzini
- Chicken Orzo Bake
- Bolognese Pasta – ValentinasCorner
Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta
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.
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 Fat
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.
Filed Under
Hi! I’m Natasha Kravchuk, a New York Times bestselling cookbook author, recipe developer, food photographer, and writer. Here you’ll find delicious, reliable recipes made with simple ingredients, plus easy step-by-step photos and videos to help you cook confidently at home. 
This is my family’s very fav recipe for Cajun chicken pasta! Try it, you won’t regret it. Thank you for sharing.
Love this recipe!
I was just wondering how many grams/oz would be a serving size?
Hi McKayla! I’m sorry, I don’t have it measured out that way. It’s electronically generated by entering the ingredients in a calculator. This is set to serve 6. You could find out the serving size weighing it as a whole and diving by 6.
Brilliant tasting pasta! My man and daughter loved it! (So did I). Making it for the second time today. I add mushroom and spinach to it just to get some veggies in 😊. Thank you so much for sharing your recipes!
Hi Trisha! I’m glad to hear that your family enjoyed it!
Brilliant tasting pasta! My man and daughter loved it! (So did I). Making it for the se and time today. I add mushroom and spinach to it just to get some veggies in 😊. Thank you so much for sharing your recipes!
You’re so welcome! I’m happy to be able to share these recipes with you all!
Love this recipe and so does my husband! Quick question should you rinse the pasta?
Hi Rhonda! Rinsing removes the starch necessary for the sauce to properly adhere to the pasta. It can also have less flavor and a watery consistency. Just drain the pasta and use it in the dish.
Thank you so much for answering so speedily!
I am making it tonight! 🥰
Sounds delish but is there a way to make it healthier? 😁
You can swap or add Veggies for volume & nutrition and use healthier pasta options like whole-wheat or high-fiber pasta.
This is a great recipe. We will have this one on our family rotation.
It sounds like you found a new favorite, Amy!
So delicious!! Almost tastes like Chili’s Cajun Chicken pasta 😋 I used Merman’s Revenge Cajun Seasoning and turned out perfect. Thanks for the recipe!
I’m happy to hear it turned out perfect, Erin! You’re welcome!
This is delicious! I didn’t have diced tomatoes so I used a small scoop of tomato paste for some acidity (and it gave it a nice color)
Quick easy and yummy!
I’m glad to hear that worked well, K! Thank you for sharing that with me.
VERY GOOD!! and QUICK, my family loves it it. I used slap ya mamma for the cajun seasoning, it turned out AMAZING
So happy to hear your family loved it, Cheebo!
I added a red bell pepper, some onion and red pepper flakes. Awesome recipe….
OMG! This recipe is so GOOD! I am going to save this! This is perfect for quick and easy college meals!
So happy you loved it!
What can I substitute the tomatoes with? I love them but my family, not so much. Thanks
Hi Missi! The best substitute would be roasted red peppers and a splash of lemon juice for acidity. Or you can just leave them out.
Hi! What size are you using for the chicken breasts in this recipe and in general?
Hi J, we purchase the regular chicken breast from the grocery store. I didn’t measure them by weight.
My meat store sells both the larger breasts weighing 14-16 ounces and the smaller 4-6 oz sizes . There is no “regular “ size anymore and I want to make sure I have the right proportion .
Hi there! A standard size chicken breast is about 8 ounces, but you can use more if you’d like more protein.
Fantastic recipe!!! Your directions were so easy to follow, and my family loved it…
So glad to hear that. Thanks for sharing.
What can I use if I don’t have cream? I have buttermilk. Will that work?
Hi there! I recommend using the recommended heavy whipping cream as it would probably become a bit runny if you use buttermilk.
I typically make it with half and half since they make lactose free half and half but not heavy cream. I’ve even made it with Fairlife whole milk and it’s turned out well! If it’s too thin, you can make a slurry of cornstarch and water and mix it in until it’s at the texture you want 🙂
After getting a dish in a restaurant last year I searched for the best recipe and this is perfect and tastes the exact same! I’ve made it multiple times and will continue to make it, thank you!!!
I’m so happy to hear that, Lorraine!
Absolutely love this recipe! Used boneless skinless chicken thighs and shrimp (lightly seasoned with Cajun seasoning and cooked on a griddle). Only needed 1 1/4 Tbsp Cajun seasoning (McCormick brand). This is one of our new favorite recipes!
I’m glad to hear that you love this recipe a lot!
My family absolutely loves this recipe!!!
I do have a question about servings. The nutritional information shows per serving but I couldn’t find the serving size. Is the nutritional information for one cup or two cups? Thank you so much!
Jean
Hi Jean. Unfortunately, it’s not that specific since it’s computer generated. This recipe is set to serve six people, the number of servings is at the top of the recipe card. The nutrition facts are per one serving.
Simply Delicious! Amazing recipe as always. Although this is my first time commenting, I’ve tried a few your other recipes. The wonderful Seniors that I provide meals for truly enjoy your recipes.😊😊😊😊😊
Thank you so much, John! I’m glad you’re enjoying the recipes.
I make this using rotisserie chicken and Rotel tomatoes. Soooooo good
Does it turn out the same if I don’t add any tomato’s? Not a big fan of tomato’s but I looovee cajun pasta and have been wanting to make it! Recipe is much appreciated.
Hi Ray! It’s not quite the same, but it can work.
Would it be okay if i use shrimp instead of chicken?
Hi Sophia! I have a Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta recipe too.