Creamy Cajun chicken pasta
Pasta and tomatoes turn one pound of chicken into a complete, creamy four-serving dinner.
Recipe source: Budget Bytes
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 20 min
- Makes
- 4 servings
- Budget note
- $9.41 when source was updated
Directions
- 1
Season the chicken
Combine the dry spices. Toss the chicken pieces with the seasoning until evenly coated.
- 2
Start the skillet
Heat oil and butter in a deep skillet over medium-high. Brown the chicken briefly on each side; it will finish cooking later.
- 3
Soften the onion
Add the onion and cook about 2 minutes, scraping up the browned bits from the pan.
- 4
Cook the pasta
Add pasta, tomatoes with their liquid, and broth. Cover, bring to a boil, then lower to a steady simmer. Stir every few minutes until the pasta is tender and the chicken is fully cooked, about 10 minutes.
- 5
Make it creamy
Stir in cream cheese until the sauce is smooth. Finish with sliced green onions.
Make it work with what you have
Chicken thighs work in place of breast. Use bouillon and water instead of boxed broth, or replace some chicken with white beans.
Simple and filling
The pasta cooks directly in the broth, which saves a pot and uses the cooking liquid to form the sauce.
Storage
Refrigerate leftovers for up to 3 days. Add a splash of broth or water when reheating because the pasta continues to absorb sauce.
Stretch this meal further
These are Helping Plate’s practical additions for shopping carefully and cooking with food-distribution staples.
- Cut the chicken into small pieces so every serving gets some without increasing the amount.
- Evaporated milk makes a shelf-stable substitute for part of the cream cheese or heavy cream.
- Add frozen peas or spinach near the end to turn one pot into a more complete meal.
Equipment
Large deep skillet with lid · Small bowl · Knife and cutting board
Dietary notes
Egg-free
Check for allergens
Milk · Wheat; verify the pasta label
Watch the original how-to
Video by Budget Bytes. Helping Plate provides an independently written, pantry-friendly guide and links back to the original creator.
