Cajun Chicken Pasta Alfredo

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This Chili’s Cajun Chicken Pasta recipe tastes just like the real thing! Chicken breasts coated in a crispy Cajun-spiced parmesan breadcrumb mixture, with bowtie pasta, sliced bell peppers, mushrooms, garlic, and onion, all covered in a creamy, alfredo sauce with a kick of cajun spice.

This flavor-loaded, comforting meal is sure to get the entire family excited for the next midweek meal without you having to find storage space for any leftovers! Save your money from eating out and make this Chili’s Copycat recipe at home.

Honestly, if you love crispy Chicken Recipes, Cajun Recipes, and creamy Pasta Recipes, then you’ll love this Cajun Pasta!

Table of Contents

• Why You’ll Love This Recipe
• Why This Recipe Works
• What Do I Need To Make Cajun Chicken Pasta?
• Ingredients
• How To Make Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta
• Recipe Tips
• Customize Cajun Chicken Pasta Alfredo
• What To Serve With Chili’s Cajun Chicken Pasta?
• FAQs
• More Recipes
• Recipe
• Reviews

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Restaurant Quality. This Chilis copycat cajun chicken pasta tastes just like the real deal! This creamy pasta dish is restaurant-quality without the expense of ordering out! It truly is a great recipe.
• Flavorful. The creamy cajun sauce and seasoning will kickstart those tastebuds without the dish being overly spicy. In fact, it's not hot at all, rather a lovely balance of sweet with a bit of spice. 
• Popular. Creamy cajun chicken pasta will get you excited again about your midweek meal. It is certain to become one of your family’s favorite recipes. There won't be any resistance from the family and leftovers…what leftovers?!

Why This Recipe Works

• Easy To Follow Instructions. This Chilis copycat chicken pasta recipe includes step-by-step instructions with photos for making the dish from scratch. There's no way that you'll get lost along the way. 
• Common Ingredients. Most of the ingredients used in this recipe are common pantry staples otherwise they can be easily sourced from any local grocery store.
• Helpful Tips. You don't need to scroll too far before coming across helpful recipe tips and tricks to make this restaurant-quality meal. 
• Tried and True. I've been making this dish at home as a way to cut down on takeout for a good amount of time which means that you can trust that I'm guiding you from tried and true techniques and processes. 
• Recipe Variations have been included in case you want to mix things up, or try something new to keep things interesting for yourself and the family. 

What Do I Need To Make Cajun Chicken Pasta?

Equipment

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• Cutting Board
• Chef’s Knife
• Au Gratin Baking Dishes (For Breading)
• Large Skillet
• Serving Bowl

Ingredients

Below, I discuss the ingredients and possible substitutions if you don't have a specific ingredient. However, if you are looking for the specific measurements of each ingredient, scroll down to the bottom of this article, just above the comments, for the printable recipe card, which includes all the ingredients and the specific amounts of each one.

• Chicken Breasts. You'll need 2 large chicken breasts that are cut in half horizontally. You could also pound them out if you like. 
• Flour. I've used all-purpose flour but you could use gluten-free flour if you prefer. The flour in the sauce helps as a thickening agent.  
• Cajun Seasoning. Go ahead and use your favorite brand or even homemade cajun seasoning that can be adjusted to make it hotter if you wish. This ingredient is used in the crusted chicken breasts as well as the spicy cajun sauce. 
• Eggs.  The eggs act as the glue that will help to keep the breadcrumb coating on the chicken while cooking. If you can't eat eggs, consider using butter or yogurt instead.
• Bread Crumbs. I've used Panko bread crumbs but you can make use of any other brand you prefer, seasoned or regular. There are also gluten-free packaged bread crumbs in most stores and online.
• Parmesan Cheese. Freshly grated parmesan cheese adds lots of flavor to the crusted chicken breasts as well as the spicy cajun sauce. Always grate cheese from a block instead of using pre-shredded cheese as you will get a better flavor and melt with freshly grated cheese. 
• Olive Oil. For the best results, I recommend using high-quality olive oil for cooking with and coating cooked pasta.  
• Pasta. I've used bowtie pasta for this dish but you could also use something like Farfalle or anything you prefer. 
• Bell peppers. I've used a combination of yellow, green, and red bell peppers (diced) in this dish. You can opt to use one color only, two, or a combination like I have. 
• Garlic. You can use pre-minced garlic or mince fresh garlic yourself. If you don’t have either, then you can use garlic powder. 
• Onion. A diced yellow or white onion works well in this recipe. 
• Mushrooms. Sliced baby Bella or white mushrooms work well in this creamy cajun chicken pasta. 
• Parsley. For a garnish, I recommend using freshly chopped parsley. If you don’t have it, don’t worry, you can just leave it off.
• Green onions. Slice up some green onions as another idea for a garnish.
• Butter. You can use salted or unsalted butter. If you use salted butter then I suggest omitting the salt called for in the sauce to reduce overall sodium. 
• Black Pepper. I like to use freshly grated black pepper.
• Salt. This helps to bring out all the flavors of the ingredients.
• Chicken stock. I've used sodium-free stock. If you use regular chicken stock, be sure to reduce the salt added to the recipe. 
• Heavy Whipping Cream. This thickens the sauce and creates an ultra-luxurious creamy texture to the dish with loads of flavor. 

How To Make Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta

Parmesan Crusted Chicken Breast:

• Gather three shallow dishes, add the flour and cajun seasoning to one bowl, the eggs in another, and the bread crumbs and parmesan cheese in the third.
• Heat the oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Dredge the chicken in the flour, then egg, then in the bread crumbs, making sure to press into the bread crumbs to coat well.
• Cook the chicken in batches, turning the chicken on each side for 4 to 5 minutes. Use a thermometer to check for doneness.
• When the chicken has finished cooking, set aside and keep warm.

Pasta:

• Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain and rinse to stop cooking.

Sautéed Vegetables:

• Wipe out the pan from the chicken and add 2 tablespoons of olive oil, then add the peppers, onion, garlic, and mushrooms, and cook for 4 to 5 minutes. Remove the vegetables from the pan and keep them warm.

How To Make Spicy Cajun Alfredo Sauce

Spicy Cajun Alfredo Sauce:

1. Melt the butter in the pan over medium heat, then whisk in the flour. Cook for a minute then whisk in the Cajun seasoning, salt, and chicken broth. Whisk until it begins to thicken.
2. Whisk in the cream and add the cheese.
3. Continue stirring until the cheese has melted and the sauce is smooth.
4. Add the sautéed vegetables to the sauce.
5. Add back the pasta.
6. Toss the pasta with the sauce.

Final Touches:

• Sprinkle the pasta with parsley and sliced green onions. Add a piece of chicken on top of the pasta.
• Serve with your favorite salad and garlic toast.

Recipe Tips

• Bite-Sized. It's a great idea to cut the chicken into bite-size pieces before adding it to the pasta. It'll make serving much easier. Another option is to use chicken tenders as it will eliminate the extra work of having to cut up chicken breasts.
• Slice It. You could also slice the chicken breasts before cooking them for a faster cook time. 
• Organize. Organizing your workstation with the three bowls of ingredients (eggs, flour, cajun seasoning mixture, and bread crumbs with parmesan cheese) will help you to work quickly and efficiently, limiting mess and fuss. 
• Advance Prep. You can prepare the flour and seasoning mixture and breadcrumbs with parmesan the night before in separate bowls, covered with plastic wrap, and kept at room temperature but only whisk the eggs just prior to coating the chicken breasts for freshness and food safety reasons. 
• Spaced Out. Spread the coated chicken breasts out in the skillet with adequate space between them so that they can crisp evenly without overcrowding. You will likely need to cook the chicken in batches, especially if you decide to double this recipe. 
• Don’t Overcook. Cook the pasta al dente. You don't want to overcook it otherwise it will get mushy when it continues to cook in the sauce. 
• Use Meat Thermometer. It's best to check the chicken for doneness by inserting a meat thermometer into the thickest section. The internal temperature should register at 165F for the chicken to be safe to eat. 
• Add Spice. This dish isn't spicy at all. You can easily increase the heat by adding extra cajun seasoning or adding some cayenne pepper.  
• Thicken Sauce. If your sauce isn't thick enough, add in some extra flour or cornstarch until you achieve the desired consistency. 
• Don’t Burn. Make sure that you whisk the sauce continually while cooking it to prevent any burning. 

Customize Cajun Chicken Pasta Alfredo

• Air Fryer. If you have an air fryer and are dying to see how these cajun chicken breasts will turn out, give it a try! Just make sure that you don't overcrowd the coated chicken breasts in the air fryer basket. This may mean that you need to cook them in batches but since an air fryer cooks these chicken breasts quickly, that won't add any extra time to the recipe. 
• Gluten-Free. Make these Chilis copycat chicken breasts gluten-free by using gluten-free flour, gluten-free bread crumbs, and brown rice pasta. 
• Eggless. If you can't consume eggs, use yogurt or butter instead to help the breadcrumb coating stick to the chicken strips. 
• Make It Spicy. Add some heat to your coated chicken breasts by including some cayenne pepper to the cajun and flour mixture. You can also increase the level of heat by adding cayenne pepper into the sauce. 
• Extra Creamy. For an ultra-creamy sauce, add in some cream cheese (about 2 ounces) in addition to the heavy cream! 
• Vegetarian. Make this dish vegetarian by leaving the chicken out and using something like tofu instead. You will also need to swap the chicken broth for vegetable broth. 
• Change Pasta Type. Feel free to change the type of pasta to what you have on hand. Instead of bow tie pasta, you can use penne pasta, or whatever you have on hand.
• Add Shrimp, Bacon, Andouille Sausage, or Smoked Sausage. Either in addition, or in lieu of, the chicken, feel free to add shrimp, bacon, or sausage to add additional flavor and protein. This is completely optional, and just something to consider if you want to customize it to make it your own.

What To Serve With Chili’s Cajun Chicken Pasta?

This creamy cajun chicken pasta is incredibly filling and hearty all by itself which is why I often enjoy a serving without any side dish. 

However, feel free to serve this creamy chicken pasta main dish with some garlic bread, focaccia, a light soup, or green salad. Below are a few suggestions.

• Asiago Focaccia Bread
• Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad
• Spinach Salad with Bacon Dressing
• Chicken Noodle Soup

FAQs

HOW SHOULD I STORE CREAMY CAJUN CHICKEN PASTA?

You can store leftover Instant Pot cheesy chicken pasta in an airtight container, once completely cool, in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

To reheat any leftovers, add them to the microwave for a minute or two or in the oven for 10-15 minutes at 350F. 

CAN I FREEZE THIS CREAMY CHILI’S COPYCAT CHICKEN PASTA?

Technically, yes…although I never recommend freezing pasta dishes that contain dairy-based products and the reason being is that the cream in this dish can separate as a result of the freezing and thawing process. 

HOW DO I MAKE THIS PASTA DISH GLUTEN-FREE?

One easy way to ensure that this meal caters to those with gluten sensitivities is to use a gluten-free pasta instead of normal wheat-based pasta. There are many options available at most stores and online. 

You will also need to use gluten-free flour for coating the chicken and for the sauce (or use cornstarch instead) and opt for gluten-free breadcrumbs as well. 

More Recipes

• Instant Pot Cheesy Chicken Pasta
• Green Chile Chicken Pasta
• Cajun Blackened Chicken

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