Name: Cajun Chicken Pasta Penne
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: American, Italian, Southern
Ingredients: 2 teaspoons paprika; 1 teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon pepper; 1 teaspoon onion powder; 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper; 1 teaspoon oregano; 1 teaspoon thyme; 8 ounces of uncooked Penne pasta; 1 package (16 oz, frozen chopped broccoli); 1 lb chicken breast (cut into cubes); 2 tablespoons oil; 2-3 tablespoons Cajun seasoning; 2 tablespoons butter; 1 tablespoon minced garlic; 1/2 cup chicken broth; 1 cup heavy whipping cream; 2 tablespoons flour; 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Cajun Chicken Pasta Penne is a simple, tasty dinner recipe. Delicious and filling Penne pasta wrapped up in a homemade creamy base and lightly seasoned with Cajun spices – so much flavor in such an easy recipe!

Cajun Chicken Pasta Ingredients

Cajun Chicken Pasta Penne with fresh homemade seasoning is a delicious, slightly spicy, and totally flavorful dinner, saturated in garlic cream sauce and perfect for a filling dish. Just like chicken alfredo bake, this dish is a perfect weeknight meal.

Scroll to the bottom for a printable version of this post, including all measurements and instructions, so you can follow along in your kitchen without being on your phone.

Here is what ingredients you need to gather to get started:

Penne pasta
frozen chopped broccoli
chicken breast, cut into cubes
oil
homemade Cajun seasoning
butter
minced garlic
chicken broth
whipping cream
flour
Parmesan cheese

SIDE DISHES TO HAVE WITH THIS DISH: Parmesan Roasted Carrots, Oven Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Oven Roasted Rosemary Carrots, Garlic Roasted Asparagus

Homemade Cajun Seasoning

I did make my own homemade Cajun seasoning because I don’t have any in the pantry and I think it tastes better to adjust your own flavors!

But you can use something pre-made if you have that on hand.

Scroll to the bottom for a printable version of this post, including all measurements and instructions, so you can follow along in your kitchen without being on your phone.

Here is what ingredients you need to gather to get started:

paprika
salt
garlic powder
pepper
onion powder
cayenne pepper
oregano
thyme

Note on Frozen Broccoli

Full disclosure. I hate buying frozen broccoli because of all of the stem pieces.

I don’t like them as much as the leaves (are broccoli’s called leaves?? Trees??).

So for this recipe, I purchased 16 ounces of frozen broccoli and picked out all of the stems and tossed them. It was about 1/3 of the bag.

Also you could leave out the broccoli entirely if you wanted and adjust the instructions.

Recipe for Cajun Chicken Pasta

Add water to a large stock pot and bring to a boil.

Add Penne pasta and bring to a boil.

Boil for 9 minutes.

Turn heat to high and add frozen broccoli.

Cook for 2-4 minutes or until broccoli is cooked.

Drain broccoli and pasta.

already boiled Penne pasta and broccoli in a sauce pan

While pasta and broccoli are cooking, add chicken, oil and seasoning to a skillet and mix well.

Heat over medium high heat until chicken is cooked through and no longer pink.

seasoned chicken with homemade Cajun seasoning (you can blacken if you like) sitting in a cast iron pan

Remove from pan and keep warm.

Add butter, garlic, broth, whipping cream and flour to the skillet and heat over medium low heat whisking well until sauce begins to thicken and bubble.