Lightened Up Cajun Chicken Pasta
This Cajun chicken chickpea pasta recipe is a perfect weeknight dinner that tastes amazing and will leave you feeling light and energized! The rich flavor of the Cajun seasoning combined with a lightened up cream sauce gives this dish great depth of flavor. This meal can be made in less than 30 minutes, which makes it ideal for busy families on the go.
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 503cal
Cost: $7
Equipment
- 5 quart stock pot
- Large, deep-walled skillet
- cutting board & knife
- Wooden Spoon
- Measuring Cups & spoons
- Whisk
Ingredients
- 8.8 ounces Barilla® Chickpea Pasta cooked al dente
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 pound white meat chicken cubed
- 1½ tablespoons Cajun seasoning *see notes for homemade version
- 1 medium yellow onion diced
- 1 medium yellow bell pepper diced
- 1 medium red bell pepper diced
- 3 cloves fresh garlic pressed
- ¼ cup green onion sliced
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 cup chicken broth low sodium style
- 2 ounces cream cheese softened
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese grated
- 2 tablespoons basil chopped
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add Barilla® Chickpea pasta and cook until al dente. Drain out the water, and set it aside.
- In a large skillet, add half the olive oil, and chicken cubes. Season chicken with half the Cajun spice, salt, and pepper and cook until chicken is browned and clear juices run freely. Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the pan and set it aside.
- Add remaining oil, peppers, and onions to the pan; season them with the other half the Cajun spices. Cook them until tender. Stir in the milk, and broth and mix. Add the cream cheese, and whisk until smooth and no longer lumpy. Bring the sauce to a simmer before adding the drained pasta to the skillet.
- Add the Parmesan, and stir to combine. Add in the chicken and stir to combine.
- Sprinkle the top of the dish with basil before serving.
Notes
Nutritional values may vary and are meant to be a guide.
Homemade Cajun Seasoning
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 2 teaspoons salt (or less, depending on taste)
- 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoons onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 503cal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 77mg | Sodium: 523mg | Potassium: 420mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 1965IU | Vitamin C: 68mg | Calcium: 213mg | Iron: 6mg