Description
This Crock Pot Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta is an easy and flavorful dinner recipe featuring tender slow-cooked chicken with vibrant Cajun spices, creamy cheeses, and perfectly cooked pasta for a comforting one-pot meal.
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 the chicken: Rub chicken breasts evenly with Cajun seasoning, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. For enhanced flavor, optionally marinate the chicken for 15–20 minutes before cooking.
- Slow cook vegetables and chicken: Place the seasoned chicken breasts in the slow cooker. Add sliced red and green bell peppers, sliced yellow onion, and pour in the chicken broth. Cook on low for 6–7 hours or on high for 3–4 hours until the chicken is tender.
- Shred the chicken: Remove the cooked chicken from the slow cooker and shred it finely using two forks. Return the shredded chicken back into the slow cooker.
- Add cheeses and melt: Add cubed cream cheese and shredded Parmesan cheese into the slow cooker. Stir the mixture well until the cheeses melt completely and create a creamy sauce. Continue cooking on low for an additional 10–15 minutes.
- Cook pasta: While the sauce finishes cooking, prepare the pasta separately according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta thoroughly.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Stir the cooked pasta into the slow cooker mixture until the pasta is well-coated with the creamy Cajun sauce and heated through.
- Serve and garnish: Serve the creamy Cajun chicken pasta hot, garnished with fresh parsley, extra Parmesan cheese, and crushed red pepper flakes if desired for added heat and flavor.
Notes
- For deeper flavor, sear the chicken breasts in olive oil before placing them in the slow cooker.
- Cook pasta separately and add it only at the end to prevent it from becoming mushy.
- Use freshly shredded Parmesan for the best texture and enhanced taste.
- For extra spiciness, use hot Cajun seasoning or add jalapeños along with the bell peppers.
- Freeze the cream sauce without pasta to preserve texture better when reheating later.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg
