This One-Pot Creamy Chicken Cajun Pasta is a flavour explosion waiting to happen. Tender chicken is cooked with a blend of Cajun spices, then simmered with creamy tomato sauce, vegetables and your favorite pasta all in one pot! It's a quick and easy weeknight meal with a kick, perfect for busy schedules and satisfying cravings.
I've always had in my mind that I wanted to make a creamy tomato chicken pasta but all the recipes I was seeing included cream cheese which I didn't want to include because it didn't meet my dietary goals for a meal prep lunch.
So I have made a Creamy Chicken Cajun Pasta without Cream Cheese and have instead, used Greek Yoghurt to give this creamy spicy pasta a bit of a twist.
"I could have eaten two of those it was THAT GOOD!"
Zak, my partner, after having this for lunch
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Why you'll love this recipe
Flavour explosion. Tender chicken, creamy tomato pasta sauce, Cajun spices adding a touch of heat.
One-pot pasta meal. No additional dishes to use and clean up meaning an easy clean up for a quick weeknight chicken dinner.
Easy chicken meal prep. This spicy pasta dish is ideal for meal prepping as the flavours continue to progress after cooking.
Customisable spice. The spicy Cajun chicken can be adjusted to suit your heat preferences by either lowering or increasing the Cajun seasoning.
Ingredients
Chicken breast. This is the protein base for the chicken Cajun pasta. You can substitute other types of chicken such as thigh, or other meats for a different flavour base.
Pasta. Choose your favourite type of pasta for this recipe, however, I would recommend short pastas like macaroni, penne or fusilli.
Diced tomatoes. These are the base to the creamy tomato Cajun sauce. Any type of tomatoes or canned tomatoes work well interchangeably.
sundried tomatoes. Sun-dried tomatoes add a burst of intense tomato flavor and a chewy texture. If you don't have them on hand, simply omit. They give a "marry me pasta" vibe when added (plus I had half a jar in the fridge that had to be used up when I created this recipe).
Chicken broth. This forms the base of the sauce. You can substitute for other types of broth or stock for this pasta meal prep.
Greek yoghurt. Greek yoghurt adds a touch of creaminess in pasta without cream. You can substitute sour cream, cooking cream or cream cheese (a lot of other Cajun pasta recipes will use this) if preferred, but the nutritional profile will vary.
Spinach. Adds a touch of colour, nutrients and wilts into the creamy sauce.
Cajun seasoning. This is what packs the punch in this Cajun chicken pasta. You can purchase store-bought or create your own homemade Cajun seasoning. Cajun really takes this chicken pasta sauce up a notch.
Please check the recipe card for full list of ingredients and quantity. See below for substitutions and variations.
How to make creamy Cajun pasta
- Tenderise chicken
Add diced chicken breast and cornflour to a large bowl and toss lightly to coat. This is optional, but the cornflour helps to thicken up the sauce and tenderises the chicken as it's an alkaline. If you plan to have this pasta as a meal prep, I highly recommend this step.
- Coat chicken
Add Cajun seasoning and stir to coat the chicken. You can always adjust the Cajun spice later when you add the Cajun chicken to the pasta.
- Cook onion & chicken
Add olive oil to a large pan over medium heat and sautee diced onion for 3 minutes.
Add Cajun seasoned chicken and cook for approx. 2 minutes each side (or until most of the outside is white - it doesn't have to be cooked through because the rest will happen when cooking the cajun pasta sauce). - Cook pasta
Add pasta, tomatoes and chicken broth. Stir until combined and let it come to the boil. Once boiling, lower the heat and simmer with the lid on for approx. 10 minutes or until liquid thickens and pasta is almost al dante.
If you're planning on meal prepping this pasta, decrease the cooking time by 2 minutes so it doesn't go mushy when reheating. - Add spinach & yoghurt
Add spinach, and stir until wilted and combined. Add Greek yoghurt and stir to combine. Taste and adjust Cajun flavour if necessary. Add more for extra spicy cajun chicken pasta, or add more Greek yoghurt to decrease the spice.
- Serve
Remove from the heat and top with spring onions. Pasta meal prep tips and tricks below.
Top Tip
If you're going to make this recipe, make sure to follow this top tip!
Don't skip step 1! Adding an alkaline to the chicken acts like a brine and helps tenderise it. This is especially important if you plan on having this Cajun chicken as a meal prep.
Substitutions and variations
Protein. You could use any cut of chicken without the bone and cook it the same way. You could also substitute for pork or beef for a different flavour profile.
Vegan. Substitute the meat for tofu or tempeh and use a coconut yoghurt in place of the Greek yoghurt for the creamy cajun sauce. You can then use a vegetarian broth or stock in place of the chicken.
Spice. If you like a REALLY spicy Cajun chicken pasta, you can add extra Cajun spice, or really spice it up with some cayenne pepper, red chilli flakes, or garnish with some fresh chillis.
Meal prep and leftovers
This One-Pot Creamy Chicken Cajun Pasta is perfect for meal prepping! It's a hearty and flavourful spicy pasta dish that reheats well. I've given tips in the instructions on how to make sure the chicken doesn't dry out, and the sauce also helps keep it moist. Here's how to store and reheat your pasta for the best results:
Storing
Allow the cooked cajun chicken pasta to cool completely before storing. Do this in the open air (not with a lid on) as the trapped moisture can cause the pasta to become soggy over time. Cooling the pasta allows the excess moisture to evaporate.
Once cool, transfer the Cajun pasta meal prep to airtight containers and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
Reheating
If you really like a creamy cajun pasta with chicken, I would recommend adding an extra spoonful of yoghurt or milk before reheating so this mixes in with the sauce as it heats up.
Stove top. Reheat individual portions in a saucepan over low-medium heat, stirring occasionally, until warmed through. This will take approximately 10 minutes.
Microwave. You can also reheat pasta with Cajun chicken in the microwave on medium power on 1 minute intervals, stirring each time to make sure you evenly reheat. (this will take approx. 3 minutes).
Freezing
For longer storage, portion the cooled chicken cajun pasta into freezer-safe containers, vacuum sealer, souper cubes or reusable silicone bags (links provided above).
Leave some headspace for expansion and label with the date. Freeze for up to 6 months.
Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. Be aware that the texture of the pasta and spinach might change slightly upon thawing and try to avoid stirring or mixing it together when still a little frozen as it will break apart.
If you want more meal prep information, check out my Meal Prep for Beginners post and my Meal Prep Basics E-Book.
FAQs
Cajun pasta can range from mildly spicy to very spicy, depending on the amount of Cajun seasoning used.
I've given some tips and tricks throughout this Cajun pasta recipe to make it as customisable as possible regardless of whether you just like the flavour that spice gives you, or you want to set your mouth on fire.
Cajun seasoning is a blend of spices commonly used in Cajun and Creole cuisine. It typically includes paprika, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, and thyme. You can find pre-made Cajun seasoning at most grocery stores, or create your own blend using the spices mentioned above.
Properly stored in airtight containers, leftover Chicken Cajun Pasta will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. It's important to allow the pasta to cool completely before storing to prevent bacterial growth and ensure the best texture when reheated.
I hope you enjoy this as much as I do - Love & Pasta, Lauren x
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Recipe
One-Pot Creamy Chicken Cajun Pasta
Ingredients
- 500 g chicken breast cubed (See post for variations)
- 1 tablespoon cornflour or baking soda
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 brown onion diced
- 400 g pasta small pasta
- 400 g diced tomato (tin)
- 100 g sundried tomatoes optional, gives marry me chicken vibes
- 2 cups chicken broth See post for variations
- ¼ cup Greek yoghurt (See Note 1)
- 4 cups spinach
- 2 tablespoon Cajun seasoning (See Note 2)
- 4 spring onions for garnish
Instructions
- Add diced chicken breast and cornflour to a bowl, toss to coat. Add Cajun seasoning and stir to coat the chicken.
- Add olive oil to a large pan over medium and add diced onion. Sautee until fragrant (approx. 3 minutes)
- Add seasoned chicken to cook for approx. 2 minutes each side (or until most of the outside is white - it doesn't have to be cooked through).
- Add pasta, tomatoes and chicken broth. Stir until combined, and let it come to the boil. Once boiling, lower the heat and put lid on. Simmer for approx. 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until liquid thickens and pasta is almost al dante.
- Add spinach, and stir until wilted and combined. Add Greek yoghurt and combine with the sauce. Taste and adjust spiciness (Note 2)
- Remove from the heat and top with spring onions. See post for meal prep and leftovers tips and tricks.
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