Best 7 Quick Cajun Chicken Penne Recipes

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If you are short on time but still want to enjoy a delectable meal, look no further than quick Cajun chicken penne. This dish embodies the vibrant flavors of Louisiana with its tantalizing blend of spices, juicy chicken, and al dente penne pasta. It's a perfect balance of heat, smokiness, and creaminess. In just 30 minutes, you can whip up this flavorful dish that will surely satisfy your cravings and leave you wanting more.

Let's cook with our recipes!

QUICK CAJUN CHICKEN PENNE



Quick Cajun Chicken Penne image

I used to work at a restaurant that served a variation of chicken with penne pasta. I didn't know how easy it would be to make until I gave it a shot at home-now it's always a requested meal around my house. -Rusty Koll, Elmwood, Illinois

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 30m

Yield 6 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 6

1 package (16 ounces) penne pasta
4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (5 ounces each)
2 teaspoons blackened seasoning
2 containers (10 ounces each) refrigerated Alfredo sauce
2 plum tomatoes, chopped
3 green onions, thinly sliced

Steps:

  • Cook pasta according to package directions; drain., Moisten a paper towel with cooking oil; using long-handled tongs, lightly coat the grill rack. Sprinkle chicken with blackened seasoning. Grill chicken, covered, over medium heat or broil 4 in. from the heat for 5-8 minutes on each side or until a thermometer reads 170°. Cut into bite-size pieces., In a large skillet, heat Alfredo sauce over medium heat until warm, stirring frequently. Add the tomatoes, onions, pasta and chicken; toss to coat and heat through.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 660 calories, Fat 31g fat (12g saturated fat), Cholesterol 90mg cholesterol, Sodium 1015mg sodium, Carbohydrate 63g carbohydrate (7g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 34g protein.

CREAMY CAJUN CHICKEN PASTA



Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta image

Try this when you are feeling daring and want to mix things up a bit! A Southern inspired recipe that is sure to add a little fun to your dinner table. Try serving it with corn bread.

Provided by Tammy Schill

Categories     Meat and Poultry Recipes     Chicken     Chicken Breast Recipes     Pasta

Time 30m

Yield 2

Number Of Ingredients 15

4 ounces linguine pasta
2 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, sliced into thin strips
2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
2 tablespoons butter
1 green bell pepper, chopped
½ red bell pepper, chopped
4 fresh mushrooms, sliced
1 green onion, minced
1 ½ cups heavy cream
¼ teaspoon dried basil
¼ teaspoon lemon pepper
¼ teaspoon salt
⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add linguini pasta, and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, or until al dente; drain.
  • Meanwhile, place chicken and Cajun seasoning in a bowl, and toss to coat.
  • In a large skillet over medium heat, saute chicken in butter until no longer pink and juices run clear, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add green and red bell peppers, sliced mushrooms and green onions; cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Reduce heat, and stir in heavy cream. Season the sauce with basil, lemon pepper, salt, garlic powder and ground black pepper, and heat through.
  • In a large bowl, toss linguini with sauce. Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 1109.2 calories, Carbohydrate 53.7 g, Cholesterol 347.9 mg, Fat 82.2 g, Fiber 4.4 g, Protein 42.7 g, SaturatedFat 50 g, Sodium 1134.2 mg, Sugar 5.6 g

GLUTEN FREE PENNE WITH CAJUN CHICKEN



Gluten Free Penne with Cajun Chicken image

Serve up a spicy, delicious gluten free meal with this creamy gluten free penne tossed with Cajun chicken, colorful red peppers, mushrooms and onions.

Provided by Barilla

Categories     Trusted Brands: Recipes and Tips     Barilla Gluten Free

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 (12 ounce) box Barilla Gluten Free Penne
4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
1 Vidalia onion, cut julienne style
1 red bell pepper, cut julienne style
6 domestic mushrooms, quartered
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
½ cup dry white wine
½ cup heavy cream
½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Salt and black pepper to taste

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
  • Meanwhile in a hot skillet, brown the chicken in olive oil over high heat for approximately 5 minutes. Add onion, bell pepper, mushrooms, garlic and Cajun seasoning and saute for 3 additional minutes. Stir in wine then season with salt and pepper; reduce liquid by half.
  • Add cream and bring to simmer.
  • Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions.
  • Drain and toss with sauce and stir in cheese before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 527.4 calories, Carbohydrate 52.3 g, Cholesterol 78.8 mg, Fat 24.5 g, Fiber 2.4 g, Protein 21.1 g, SaturatedFat 8.4 g, Sodium 414.9 mg, Sugar 3 g

CAJUN CHICKEN PENNE



Cajun Chicken Penne image

"I tasted a wonderful Cajun pasta dish on a kayaking trip and attempted to recreate the delicious flavors from memory," Mary Spikowski explains from Columbus, Ohio. "With whole what pasta, this is as tasty as the original."

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 40m

Yield 4 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 11

1-1/2 cups uncooked whole wheat penne pasta
1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 3/4-inch pieces
3 teaspoons Cajun seasoning, divided
3 teaspoons olive oil, divided
1 medium green pepper, julienned
1 medium sweet red pepper, julienned
1 medium onion, halved and sliced
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 medium tomatoes, chopped
1 cup fat-free evaporated milk, divided
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

Steps:

  • Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, toss chicken with 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning. In a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray, cook chicken in 2 teaspoons oil until no longer pink; drain. Remove and keep warm. , In the same skillet, saute peppers and onion in remaining oil for 1 minute. Add garlic; saute 1 minute longer. Add tomatoes; saute 2 minutes longer. Stir in 3/4 cup milk., Bring to a boil. Combine flour with remaining Cajun seasoning and milk until smooth; gradually stir into skillet. Cook for 1-2 minutes or until thickened. Return chicken to the pan; heat through. Drain pasta; toss with chicken mixture.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 432 calories, Fat 8g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 65mg cholesterol, Sodium 635mg sodium, Carbohydrate 55g carbohydrate (15g sugars, Fiber 5g fiber), Protein 35g protein.

ONE-POT CAJUN CHICKEN PASTA



One-Pot Cajun Chicken Pasta image

You can have this creamy and comforting pasta with chicken on the table in just 30 minutes and best of all, it all cooks in one pot -- you won't even need to boil water first! It's packed with tender chicken thighs, bell peppers, and onions, and finished off with a creamy tomato sauce.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories     main-dish

Time 30m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs (about 4), cut into 1-inch pieces
2 1/2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
2 medium green bell peppers, stemmed, seeded and cut into 1/4-inch strips
1 small yellow onion, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, chopped
12 ounces smooth penne (see Cook's Note)
4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
One 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes
6 ounces cream cheese, cubed, at room temperature
Kosher salt
4 scallions, sliced, for serving

Steps:

  • Heat the oil in large wide pot over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and Cajun seasoning and cook, stirring occasionally, until the chicken just starts to change color and the spices are toasted, about 2 minutes.
  • Add the peppers and onions and cook until they just begin to release some of their juices, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook until softened, 1 minute.
  • Add the pasta, chicken broth and tomatoes and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. When it boils, continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is al dente and the sauce is thickened and reduced by about half, about 15 minutes.
  • Remove from the heat and add the cream cheese and 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt. Stir until the cream cheese is combined and melted. Don't worry if the sauce looks runny, it will thicken as it sits. Top with sliced scallions.

SARAHKAYE'S GLUTEN-FREE SPICY CAJUN CHICKEN PENNE



SarahKaye's Gluten-Free Spicy Cajun Chicken Penne image

You'll find yourself moaning "mmmmm" while eating this delicious one pan meal. Plus, this cooks together very quickly once you get started, so have everything cut and measured ready to be added before you begin cooking anything. A super delicious meal that is pretty easy to pull together in a snap! Don't let the long ingredient list intimidate you! It's soo well worth it! 3/1/17 Substitution Note: To make this recipe 'healthier' try the following substitution: OMIT the 3/4 cup milk and 1/3 cup butter, REPLACE with 1 cup chicken stock. We've been using this simple substitution for a while now, and actually like it better than our original full fat version. 1/25/20 Note: Our favorite pasta is Banza or Jovial, gluten-free!

Provided by SarahKaye

Categories     Chicken Breast

Time 40m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 19

4 ounces penne, of choice
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, thinly sliced
2 teaspoons cajun seasoning
1/4 cup orange bell pepper, diced
1/4 cup yellow bell pepper, diced
1/4 cup red bell pepper, diced
4 ounces mushrooms, quartered (I use Baby Bella's)
1 head broccoli, florets halved
1 green onion, thinly sliced
3/4 cup milk
1/3 cup butter, melted
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon lemon pepper
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
parmesan cheese, grated
fresh bread, sliced

Steps:

  • While pasta is cooking, place chicken and Cajun seasoning in a bowl and toss to coat.
  • In a large skillet over medium heat, sauté chicken in olive oil until chicken is tender, about 5-7 minutes.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together milk, melted butter and cornstarch (see note in 'description' about a yummy substitution). Add in salt, basil, lemon pepper, garlic powder and black pepper. Set aside.
  • Add green and red bell peppers, onion, mushrooms and broccoli to the skillet. Cook 2-3 minutes.
  • Reduce heat and slowly add milk mixture to skillet and heat through. Sauce will thicken.
  • Mix drained (& rinsed, if using gluten-free) pasta into skillet.
  • Serve with fresh parmesan cheese and a fresh Italian Bread Loaf.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 408.9, Fat 19.9, SaturatedFat 11.2, Cholesterol 84.8, Sodium 425.4, Carbohydrate 39.6, Fiber 8, Sugar 4, Protein 21.9

SKINNY CAJUN CHICKEN PENNE



Skinny Cajun Chicken Penne image

Make and share this Skinny Cajun Chicken Penne recipe from Food.com.

Provided by CaliforniaJan

Categories     Chicken Breast

Time 30m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 14

1 lb chicken tenderloins, diced
1 tablespoon creole seasoning
6 ounces whole-grain penne pasta (uncooked)
1 1/2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 tablespoon flour
3/4 cup skim milk
1/4 cup sun-dried tomato paste, spread
2 green onions (dice white and light green parts)
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced (or to taste)
1/4 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

Steps:

  • In a medium bowl, toss diced chicken with 1 tablespoon of Cajun seasoning and stir to completely coat. Set aside.
  • Bring a medium pot of water to boil and cook penne according to directions for al dente pasta. Drain and set aside.
  • In a large skillet (cast iron if you have it), melt 1-1/2 tablespoons of butter and 1 teaspoon of olive oil over medium-high heat.
  • Add chicken to skillet and cook for 4-6 minutes or until cooked through. Remove chicken from pan and cover.
  • Turn heat to low and add 1 tablespoon of flour to the pan (you should sill have some butter/oil left in there) and stir/whisk constantly until the flour/butter forms a pasty roux mixture. Do not let this burn, it will only take a minute.
  • Slowly add 3/4 cup of skim milk while whisking constantly to keep lumps from forming. If lumps do form, just smush them up with a spatula and continue to whisk. Mixture should be smooth.
  • Add 1/4 cup sundried tomato past, 2 diced green onions, 1/8 teaspoon black pepper, 1 clove of minced garlic, 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley, and 1/4 teaspoon of dried basil. Turn heat up to medium/medium-high and whisk together and cook until mixture thickens.
  • Add penne, chicken, and 1/4 cup of parmesan to the skillet, and stir to coat.
  • Serve immediately with a nice green salad.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 401.6, Fat 10.2, SaturatedFat 4.7, Cholesterol 83.7, Sodium 370.5, Carbohydrate 42.4, Fiber 5.7, Sugar 2.2, Protein 35

Tips:

  • Mise en place: Before you start cooking, make sure you have all your ingredients and equipment ready. This will help you stay organized and make the cooking process go more smoothly.
  • Use fresh ingredients: Fresh ingredients will always give you the best flavor. If possible, try to use organic or locally-sourced ingredients.
  • Don't be afraid to adjust the recipe: These recipes are just a starting point. Feel free to adjust the ingredients and cooking times to suit your own taste.
  • Cook the chicken thoroughly: Chicken should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius). You can use a meat thermometer to check the temperature.
  • Serve immediately: These dishes are best served immediately after they are cooked. The pasta will start to absorb the sauce and the chicken will dry out if you let them sit for too long.

Conclusion:

These Cajun chicken penne recipes are a delicious and easy-to-make weeknight meal. They are packed with flavor and sure to please the whole family. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy dinner, give one of these recipes a try.

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