Description
Creamy Cajun Chicken Rotini is a comforting, spicy, and creamy pasta dish that combines tender chicken, colorful bell peppers, and rotini in a luscious Cajun cream sauce. Packed with bold southern flavors and ready in under 30 minutes, it’s the perfect quick weeknight dinner that makes plenty of leftovers for busy days.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz rotini pasta
- 1 1/2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 tbsp olive oil or butter
- 2 tbsp Cajun seasoning (store-bought or homemade)
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced
- 1 yellow bell pepper, sliced
- 1 small onion, thinly sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring salted water to a boil and cook rotini until al dente. Drain and reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water.
- Season & Sear Chicken: Toss chicken with Cajun seasoning. In a large skillet, heat oil and cook chicken for 5–6 minutes until golden and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
- Sauté Vegetables: In the same skillet, cook sliced onions and bell peppers for 3–4 minutes until tender. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds.
- Create Sauce: Add heavy cream and chicken broth, scraping the bottom of the pan. Stir and bring to a gentle simmer, then mix in Parmesan cheese.
- Combine & Serve: Add pasta and chicken back to the skillet. Toss to coat evenly, adding reserved pasta water if needed. Garnish with parsley and extra Parmesan.
Notes
- Don’t overcook the pasta: Al dente texture holds up best in creamy sauces.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan: For a smoother, richer sauce.
- Adjust spice level: Add extra Cajun seasoning or red pepper flakes for more heat.
- Meal prep tip: This dish reheats beautifully for 3–4 days — just add a splash of cream before warming.
- Make it your own: Try adding spinach, shrimp, or mushrooms for variation.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Pasta
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 560
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 710mg
- Fat: 26g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 46g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 135mg
Keywords: Cajun Chicken Rotini, Creamy Pasta, Spicy Chicken Pasta, Cajun Dinner Recipe, Chicken Rotini, Creamy Cajun Chicken, Quick Dinner Recipe, Easy Pasta Recipe, Family Chicken Dinner, Weeknight Meals