Cajun Chicken Bowl (Printable Version)
A spicy Cajun pasta loaded with juicy chicken, sautéed bell peppers, and jalapeños, wrapped in a creamy Parmesan sauce. Great for anyone craving bold flavors.
# Ingredients:
→ Main Ingredients
01 -
2 tbsp olive oil, split into two parts
02 -
1 green bell pepper, sliced up
03 -
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped finely
04 -
1 lb penne pasta, uncooked
05 -
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
06 -
1 red bell pepper, sliced into strips
07 -
1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
08 -
1 lb chicken breast, boneless and sliced into small pieces
09 -
4 tbsp butter
10 -
3 cloves garlic, minced fine
11 -
2-3 jalapeño peppers, sliced up (leave out the seeds for milder taste)
12 -
1/2 red onion, cut into slices
13 -
1 1/2 tsp Cajun spice mix
14 -
2 cups milk or use half-and-half
15 -
1/2 tsp salt
16 -
1/4 tsp black pepper
# Steps:
01 -
Follow the directions on the pasta package to simmer the penne in salty water until it’s just tender (al dente). Drain and put aside.
02 -
As pasta boils, toss the Cajun seasoning onto the chicken pieces. Heat 1 tbsp of olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the chicken on all sides until cooked through, about 5-7 minutes, then set it on a plate.
03 -
In the same skillet, swirl in the remaining olive oil. Cook the peppers (green and red), onion slices, garlic, and jalapeños. Stir for about 5 minutes or until the veggies still have a slight crunch. Take them out of the skillet.
04 -
In that skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Sprinkle in the flour and stir for about a minute or two. Pour in the milk slowly while whisking to avoid any lumps.
05 -
Let the sauce bubble gently until it starts thickening, which will take about 2-3 minutes. Mix in Parmesan, salt, and pepper, stirring until totally creamy and smooth.
06 -
Toss the pasta, cooked chicken, and sautéed veggies into the sauce. Make sure everything’s coated well by giving it a good stir.
07 -
Serve it warm, sprinkled with chopped parsley on top. The creamy spice combo will make everyone smile!
# Notes:
01 -
Dial the heat up or down by tweaking the amount of jalapeños. Swap them for milder peppers like poblanos if you prefer.
02 -
Try mixing Parmesan with cheeses like Asiago or Romano for a richer flavor.
03 -
Add a little white wine or chicken stock to the sauce for a deeper taste.
04 -
Switch out the chicken for shrimp if you want a seafood version.