Name: Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: Cajun
Ingredients: 16 oz. fettuccine, cooked al dente; 2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts; 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning, divided; 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika; Pepper to taste; 2 tablespoons butter, divided; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 3-4 cloves garlic, minced; 1 tablespoon tomato paste; 1 cup chicken broth; 2 cups heavy cream; 4 tablespoons parsley, finely chopped; 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated; 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice

If you're craving something that brings bold, comforting flavors with a luscious, velvety sauce, you're going to love this Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta Recipe. It’s a perfect weeknight dinner that feels special but comes together in about 30 minutes—trust me, it’s my go-to when I want something hearty and delicious without fuss.

Cajun Chicken Pasta - A white pan holds a dish with three main layers. The bottom layer is a creamy, light beige sauce covering the whole pan. Above the sauce, there is a nest of flat fettuccine pasta in a light golden color, tangled together. On the top layer, there are several pieces of grilled chicken with a golden-brown, slightly charred surface, arranged evenly around the pan. Small bits of green herbs sprinkle the chicken and pasta, adding a touch of color. The pan rests on a white marbled surface with a blue and white striped cloth beside it. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I have to say, this Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta Recipe quickly became one of my favorites because it's hearty and packed with flavor, but still easy enough for a busy night. Plus, it’s a crowd-pleaser—friends and family always ask me for the recipe!

Bold Cajun Flavors: The Cajun seasoning delivers a smoky, slightly spicy kick that wakes up this creamy pasta in the best way.
Rich and Creamy Sauce: The heavy cream and Parmesan come together to create a silky, luscious sauce that clings perfectly to every strand of fettuccine.
Quick and Easy: Despite the restaurant-quality taste, it’s ready in about 30 minutes, making it doable any night of the week.
Flexible and Customizable: Whether you want it spicier, with different proteins, or packed with veggies, this recipe welcomes personal twists.

Cajun Chicken Pasta - The image shows a close-up of three slices of cooked chicken placed on top of a bed of spaghetti noodles. The chicken slices are golden brown with a slightly crispy texture and some black pepper seasoning visible on the surface. The spaghetti noodles underneath are light brown, coated in sauce, and mixed with small green herb leaves scattered throughout. The scene is set against a white marbled texture background. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

This Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta Recipe relies on simple but thoughtfully chosen ingredients that build layers of flavor. Each element enhances the others, from the tender chicken to the spice mix to the gorgeously creamy sauce.

Cajun Chicken Pasta - Flat lay of fresh boneless, skinless chicken breasts seasoned with reddish-orange Cajun spices and smoked paprika, bright green parsley sprigs finely chopped, creamy white heavy cream in a smooth pour, deep red tomato paste dollop, peeled and slightly crushed garlic cloves with a creamy off-white tone, glossy lemon halves showing vibrant yellow pulp, and freshly grated Parmesan cheese with fine, snowy white texture, all arranged naturally with slight overlaps and shadows to highlight their freshness and colors, placed on white marbled surface, photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Fettuccine: I find fettuccine holds onto the creamy sauce best with its broad ribbons, but any pasta you love works.
Boneless, skinless chicken breasts: Easy to cook evenly once pounded flat, which helps them stay juicy inside and golden outside.
Cajun seasoning: This is the star spice blend that gives the dish its signature heat and smokiness—feel free to adjust based on your heat tolerance.
Smoked paprika: Adds a subtle smoky depth that complements the Cajun seasoning beautifully.
Butter and olive oil: Combining these gives you a nicely balanced fat for searing chicken and sautéing garlic without burning.
Garlic: Always a must in creamy pastas for that fragrant burst.
Tomato paste: Gives the sauce a subtle richness and slight tang, lifting the flavor beyond just cream and spice.
Chicken broth: Helps make the sauce a little lighter and layers in savory goodness.
Heavy cream: Key for that silky, luxurious mouthfeel that makes this pasta truly indulgent.
Parsley: Fresh parsley adds brightness and color to balance the richness.
Parmesan cheese: Essential for creamy texture and umami; freshly grated always tastes better.
Lemon juice: The hint of acidity cuts through the richness and wakes up the whole dish.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

This Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta Recipe is pretty forgiving, and I love playing with it depending on mood or what’s in my fridge. You can keep it classic or add your own flair—don’t hesitate to tweak the spice levels or switch proteins.

Variation: I often swap chicken for spicy andouille sausage or toss in some shrimp for a seafood twist—it changes the vibe but keeps the same rich sauce that I adore.
Add Veggies: Bell peppers or spinach make a colorful, flavorful addition and add a fresh crunch that contrasts nicely with the creamy sauce.
Make it vegetarian: Skip the meat and add mushrooms and extra veggies, then bulk up with some plant-based protein like chickpeas.
Heat Levels: If you like it hotter, throw in a pinch of cayenne pepper or chopped jalapeños for some real kick.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta Recipe

Step 1: Cook the pasta perfectly

Start by bringing a big pot of salted water to a boil and cook your fettuccine according to the package directions until just al dente. I like to err on the side of slightly undercooked since the pasta will finish cooking a bit in the sauce. Drain and set aside, but save a cup of that pasta water just in case you want to loosen the sauce later.

Step 2: Prepare and season the chicken

While the pasta cooks, give your chicken breasts a good pounding to about 1-inch thickness. This helps them cook evenly and stay juicy. Then season both sides with half your Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, and a little pepper. I use a good quality Cajun mix because it really carries the flavor — but if yours is salted, you might want to go easy on any additional salt later.

Step 3: Sear chicken to golden perfection

Heat a skillet over medium-high and melt one tablespoon of butter with a splash of olive oil. The combo keeps the butter from burning while adding great flavor. Sear the chicken about 4 to 5 minutes per side, until golden brown and cooked through (aim for internal temps of 165˚F). Remove it to a plate and slice into thick pieces once slightly rested.

Step 4: Build the creamy Cajun sauce

Drop the heat to medium, add the remaining butter, and sauté the garlic just until fragrant—about 30 seconds. Stir in the tomato paste, then pour in chicken broth and heavy cream. Scrape up those browned bits stuck to the pan; they hold a ton of flavor. For even more depth, pour in any chicken juices from your plate. Bring everything up to a simmer.

Step 5: Finish the sauce with cheese, herbs & seasoning

Once simmering, stir in fresh parsley and sprinkle in the Parmesan cheese slowly, stirring constantly until melted and creamy. Now add the remaining Cajun seasoning, lemon juice, and pepper. Taste and tweak — sometimes I add a little more seasoning or lemon juice depending on how rich the sauce feels. Let it simmer gently for 5 more minutes so it thickens up.

Step 6: Toss pasta & chicken in the sauce

Add the pasta back into the skillet and toss to coat every strand in that silky sauce. You can stir the sliced chicken back in or keep it on top to showcase those golden seared pieces. Serve it hot and sprinkle a little extra Parmesan and parsley over the top—because, why not?

Top Tip

Over the years making this Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta Recipe, I’ve learned a few little tricks that take it from good to great. The right seasoning balance and patience with the sauce thickness really make a difference.

Season in Layers: Season the chicken before cooking and then again to the sauce—it builds deeper flavor rather than just one-dimensional spice.
Don’t Skip the Tomato Paste: It adds a subtle, savory backbone to the sauce that cuts the richness slightly and balances the spices.
Simmer Sauce Low and Slow: Give the sauce time to thicken without boiling aggressively to avoid curdling or separation.
Adjust Salt After Adding Cheese: Parmesan adds salty umami, so always taste and adjust after cheese is in the sauce.

How to Serve Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta Recipe

Cajun Chicken Pasta - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I love finishing this dish with a sprinkle of freshly chopped parsley for color and brightness, plus an extra handful of grated Parmesan that melts right into the hot pasta. Sometimes, a squeeze of fresh lemon juice at the table wakes everything up too.

Side Dishes

This pasta is rich, so I often pair it with something light like a crisp green salad with a tangy vinaigrette or roasted vegetables like asparagus or broccoli. Garlic bread or a warm baguette also works if you want something to soak up every last bit of sauce.

Creative Ways to Present

For dinner parties, I like plating the pasta in shallow bowls with the sliced chicken fanned out on top and garnish with sprigs of parsley and a dusting of paprika. It makes a beautiful, inviting presentation that impresses without extra effort.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I usually store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. The sauce thickens as it cools, so before reheating, I add a splash of chicken broth or cream to loosen it back up. It holds up well, and I’ve found the flavors deepen overnight.

Freezing

This pasta freezes okay, but because of the cream sauce, texture can suffer slightly. If you want to freeze, I recommend undercooking the pasta a bit and freezing before mixing with sauce. Thaw gently overnight and reheat with added cream or broth to revive the sauce’s texture.

Reheating

Reheat gently on the stovetop over low heat with a splash of broth or cream, stirring frequently until warmed through and creamy again. Avoid microwaving straight from the fridge as it tends to separate the sauce.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use other types of pasta for this recipe?

Absolutely! While fettuccine works wonderfully because of its wide, flat shape that holds the creamy sauce well, you can use penne, linguine, or even rigatoni depending on what you have on hand. Just cook the pasta al dente to avoid it becoming mushy when tossed with the sauce.

How spicy is the Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta Recipe?

The spice level is moderate and depends mostly on the Cajun seasoning you use. Some blends are hotter than others. If you’re sensitive to spice, start with less and add more to taste. You can also add a pinch of cayenne or chili flakes for extra heat if you like things spicy.

Can I make this recipe dairy-free?

You can swap the heavy cream for full-fat coconut milk or a cashew cream substitute and use nutritional yeast instead of Parmesan cheese to make it dairy-free. The texture and flavor will be slightly different but still delicious and creamy.

What’s the best way to reheat leftover creamy Cajun chicken pasta?

The best way is on the stovetop over low heat with a little extra chicken broth or cream added in. Stir frequently until warmed through and creamy again. Avoid microwaving without adding liquid, as the sauce can split or become grainy.

Final Thoughts

This Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta Recipe holds a special place in my kitchen because it combines comforting creaminess with just enough spice to make you sit up and take notice. It’s one of those meals that feels like a warm hug but comes together fast. I highly recommend giving it a try—you might just find yourself making it again and again like I do!