Description
A quick, one-pot weeknight dinner featuring diced chicken, smoked sausage, and penne pasta simmered in a rich, creamy Cajun-spiced sauce. It offers restaurant-quality flavor with minimal cleanup.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz smoked sausage (Andouille or kielbasa), sliced into half-moons
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, diced
- 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 12 oz short tubular pasta (penne, rigatoni, or rotini)
- 1.5 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 1 medium red bell pepper, diced
- 2 tablespoons butter
- Optional: 1 cup cherry tomatoes (halved) or 2 cups fresh spinach
Instructions
- Prep ingredients: Dice chicken, slice sausage, chop onion and bell pepper, mince garlic, and grate Parmesan.
- Heat butter in a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Add chicken and sausage; brown for 5-7 minutes until chicken is seared and sausage is slightly crispy. Remove meat and set aside.
- In the same pot, sauté onion and bell pepper for 3 minutes until soft. Add garlic and Cajun seasoning; stir for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Pour in chicken broth, scraping up browned bits from the bottom. Add uncooked pasta and stir to combine. Ensure liquid covers the pasta.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer for 12-15 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes, until pasta is al dente and liquid has thickened.
- Remove pot from heat. Stir in heavy cream and the reserved chicken and sausage.
- Gradually stir in Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth. Adjust consistency with a splash of milk or cream if needed.
- Taste and adjust salt if necessary. Serve immediately with optional toppings like extra Parmesan, black pepper, or parsley.
Notes
Do not skip browning the meat for better flavor. Stir frequently to prevent sticking. Remove from heat before adding cream to prevent curdling. This recipe does not freeze well due to the dairy content.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 850
- Fat: 28
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 55
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 35
Keywords: one-pot meal, creamy pasta, Cajun chicken, sausage pasta, weeknight dinner, easy recipes, family friendly