Quick and Easy Cajun Chicken Pasta

Spicy Cajun chicken and pasta recipe

​The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 18 mins
Total: 38 mins
Servings: 6 servings

Pasta dishes are always family-pleasing, and this Cajun pasta with chicken is a delicious change of pace from the usual. The extraordinary combination of Cajun ingredients with fusilli or rotini pasta and diced cooked chicken can be as mild or spicy as you like. Leave the cayenne pepper out or add extra, depending on your tolerance for heat. The dish is a quick and easy preparation and if you are using pre-cooked chicken, dinner will be ready in less than 40 minutes.

Feel free to use leftover turkey in the dish or make it with the meat from a store-bought rotisserie chicken. Enjoy this flavorful chicken pasta dish with a salad and cornbread or biscuits.

Ingredients

  • 12 ounces pasta (fusilli or rotini)
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 8 ounces mushrooms (fresh, sliced)
  • 1 red bell pepper (sliced)
  • 1 green bell pepper (sliced)
  • 6 green onions (thinly sliced)
  • 3 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 3 to 4 cups chicken (diced, cooked)
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
  • 3/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes
  • 1 (10.75-ounce) can cream of mushroom soup
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese (grated, plus more for sprinkling)

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for spicy Cajun chicken and pasta
    ​The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck
  2. Cook the pasta in boiling salted water following package directions. Drain in a colander, and rinse well with hot water.

    Cook the pasta
    ​The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck
  3. In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Saute the mushrooms and sliced red and green bell pepper for about 5 minutes, or until the vegetables are mushrooms are lightly browned and the peppers are tender.

    Peppers and mushrooms
    ​The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck
  4. To the mushroom mixture, add the sliced green onions, minced garlic, and chicken; cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute.

    Add sliced green onions
    ​The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck
  5. Stir in the Cajun seasoning, cayenne pepper, and black pepper; cook, stirring, for another minute.

    Stir in Cajun seasoning
    ​The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck
  6. Add the tomatoes, soup, and milk. Bring to a simmer.

    Add soup, milk, tomatoes
    ​The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck
  7. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese and the cooked pasta. Heat through and serve.

    Stir in Parmesan cheese
    ​The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

What Pasta Shapes Are Good Substitutes for Fusilli or Rotini?

Fusilli and rotini are shaped like corkscrews, with ridges that hold creamy sauces well. Good alternatives pasta shapes include rigatoni, farfalle, and campanelle, which is shaped like a cone with a ruffled edge.

How to Store and Freeze

  • Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
  • If you plan to freeze the dish for another day, cook the pasta al dente or a little under and prepare the dish without the cheese. Freeze in a freezer container or bags. Label with the name and date and freeze for up to 2 months. To reheat, cook on the stovetop over low heat, stirring frequently. Add the cheese and add a small amount of milk or stock to moisten, as needed. Top with cheese.

Recipe Variation

  • Instead of green onions, slice an onion and cook it along with the mushrooms and peppers.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
701 Calories
38g Fat
54g Carbs
36g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories 701
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 38g 49%
Saturated Fat 19g 96%
Cholesterol 146mg 49%
Sodium 314mg 14%
Total Carbohydrate 54g 20%
Dietary Fiber 5g 17%
Protein 36g
Calcium 184mg 14%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)