Description
This Crock Pot Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta is an easy and flavorful dinner that combines tender slow-cooked chicken with creamy Cajun-spiced sauce and perfectly cooked pasta. It’s a comforting one-pot meal ideal for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Vegetables
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced
- 1 green bell pepper, sliced
- 1/2 yellow onion, sliced
Liquids and Dairy
- 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 8 ounces cream cheese, cubed
- 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
Pasta
- 12 ounces penne or rotini pasta
Optional Garnish
- Fresh parsley
- Extra Parmesan cheese
- Crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Season Chicken: Rub the chicken breasts with Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper thoroughly. For enhanced flavor, you can marinate the chicken for 15 to 20 minutes before cooking.
- Prepare Slow Cooker: Place the seasoned chicken breasts into the slow cooker. Add the sliced red and green bell peppers, sliced yellow onion, and pour in the low-sodium chicken broth.
- Slow Cook Chicken: Cook the mixture on low heat for 6 to 7 hours or on high heat for 3 to 4 hours until the chicken is tender and cooked through.
- Shred Chicken: Remove the cooked chicken from the slow cooker and shred it using two forks. Return the shredded chicken back to the slow cooker.
- Add Creamy Cheese Mixture: Add the cubed cream cheese and shredded Parmesan cheese to the slow cooker. Stir gently until the cheeses melt completely and create a creamy sauce. Continue cooking on low for an additional 10 to 15 minutes.
- Cook Pasta: While the sauce finishes, cook the penne or rotini pasta separately according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain well.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Stir the cooked pasta into the creamy chicken mixture in the slow cooker until well combined.
- Serve: Serve the creamy Cajun chicken pasta hot, optionally garnished with fresh parsley, extra Parmesan cheese, and crushed red pepper flakes for added flavor and presentation.
Notes
- Sear the chicken breasts with olive oil before adding to the slow cooker to develop deeper flavor and color.
- Always cook the pasta separately to prevent it from becoming mushy when added to the sauce.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for the best texture and taste in your creamy sauce.
- For a spicier dish, use hot Cajun seasoning or add diced jalapeños during slow cooking.
- Freeze the creamy sauce mixture without pasta for better texture when reheating later; add freshly cooked pasta when serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 480 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg
