If you tried this recipe I would love to see it!Tag me on Instagram @whatsinthepanblog
Creamy Cajun Chicken and Smoked Sausage Pasta
A creamy Cajun-style pasta made with browned chicken, smoked sausage, penne, Parmesan, and a silky cream sauce. Bold, comforting, and easy enough for weeknights.
Servings: 4
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoon butter, (unsalted and divided)
- 1 lb. chicken breasts
- 6 oz. smoked sausage, (sliced into ¼ inch pieces)
- 8 oz. baby Bella mushrooms, (sliced)
- Cajun seasoning, to taste
- Italian seasoning, to taste
- Salt and pepper, (to taste, optional)
Creamy Parmesan Sauce:
- 4 cloves garlic, (minced)
- 1 cup chicken broth, (sodium free)
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¾ cup Parmesan cheese, (freshly grated for best results)
- sea salt, (to taste)
Pasta:
- 8 oz. penne pasta
Instructions
Pasta:
- Boil pasta in salty water according to the package instructions. Drain and set aside.
Chicken, sausage and mushrooms:
- Generously season chicken with salt, pepper, Cajun and Italian seasonings. Do not slice it yet - you will be cooking it whole. Slice sausage into ¼ inch circles and slice mushrooms.
- In a large skillet, add 1 tablespoon butter and melt it over medium high heat. When the pan is hot, add whole chicken breasts and cook for about 4-5 minutes on each side until browned for a total of 8-10 minutes. Remove chicken onto a plate and slice into strips.
- Add sliced sausage pieces and brown them on medium heat for 2-3 minutes on each side until darker in color around the edges. Remove from the skillet onto a plate.
- Deglaze the pan with a splash of water and add 2nd tablespoon of butter and sliced mushrooms into the skillet (add more butter as well, if needed). Saute until your mushrooms should look nice and moist, and dark. Once cooked, remove them from the pan as well.
Sauce:
- To make the sauce, add remaining 1 tablespoon butter to the pan, allow it to melt and then cook garlic in it until slightly browned – only for a couple of minutes. Next add chicken broth, Worcestershire sauce and heavy cream and bring to a light simmer. Add Cajun seasoning, paprika and garlic powder and mix into the sauce.
- Add Parmesan cheese and whisk to blend for 2-3 minutes to thicken the sauce. Taste the sauce and add salt to taste.
- Add cooked pasta into the sauce and mix in well. Next add the chicken, sausage and mushrooms back into the pan and allow them to reheat for 2-3 minutes. Close the lid to help the heat stay in. Serve immediately!
Nutrition Facts
Creamy Cajun Chicken and Smoked Sausage Pasta
Amount per Serving
Calories
852
% Daily Value*
Fat
51
g
78
%
Saturated Fat
27
g
169
%
Cholesterol
219
mg
73
%
Sodium
1156
mg
50
%
Potassium
1074
mg
31
%
Carbohydrates
51
g
17
%
Fiber
2
g
8
%
Sugar
3
g
3
%
Protein
46
g
92
%
Vitamin A
2170
IU
43
%
Vitamin C
7.3
mg
9
%
Calcium
310
mg
31
%
Iron
2.7
mg
15
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only. This information comes from online calculators. Although whatsinthepan.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.
Video
Notes
Use a smoked sausage with decent flavor and visible fat if you can, because better sausage gives the sauce more backbone.
Cajun seasoning can vary a lot in saltiness, so taste before adding extra salt at the end.
If your cream is straight from the fridge, let it sit out briefly before cooking so it warms more evenly.
