Creamy Sweet Spicy Cajun Chicken (Print Version)
Smooth Cajun sauce with sweet-heat, tender chicken, and pasta in a single pan—all done in 45 minutes.
# What You'll Need:
→ Chicken & Seasoning
01 - 1 pound chicken breast, sliced
02 - 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
03 - 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
→ Pasta & Sauce
04 - 8 ounces penne or rigatoni
05 - 2 cups chicken broth
06 - 1/2 cup heavy cream
07 - 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
08 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
# Steps to Follow:
01 - Season sliced chicken breast with Cajun seasoning. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken until browned and fully cooked, about 5 minutes. Remove chicken from the pan and set aside.
02 - Add minced garlic to the same pan. Cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Pour in chicken broth, heavy cream, and honey; stir well and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
03 - Add uncooked pasta to the pan and return cooked chicken to the mixture. Stir to combine. Cook uncovered, stirring often, for about 12-15 minutes or until pasta is al dente and sauce thickens. Ensure all ingredients are evenly coated before serving.
# Additional Tips::
01 -
- Quick to prep with just one pan to wash
- Balanced heat meets a touch of sweetness for family friendly flavor
- No fancy ingredients needed everything easily found at most stores
- Velvety sauce clings to every bite and keeps leftovers just as tasty
02 -
- Great way to use up leftover chicken
- Naturally reheats well and does not dry out
- Works for meal prep as sauce keeps everything moist
03 -
- Always brown chicken in a hot pan to lock in moisture before making your sauce
- Add garlic only once the pan cools slightly so it does not burn sweet flavor comes from gentle heat
- Adjust Cajun spice at the end to suit your crowd I sometimes split the pan and make one half extra spicy