Description
A hearty, one-skillet pasta dish loaded with tender chicken, smoky sausage, and penne tossed in a creamy, spicy Cajun sauce. It’s bold, comforting, and ready in about 35 minutes — perfect for busy weeknights or casual entertaining.
Ingredients
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 links smoked sausage, sliced
- 12 oz penne pasta
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp Cajun seasoning
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp butter
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain and set aside.
- Season chicken with Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken and cook 5–6 minutes until browned and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
- In the same skillet, cook sausage slices for 3–4 minutes until browned. Remove and set aside with chicken.
- Melt butter in the skillet. Sauté minced garlic for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add chicken broth and stir, scraping up browned bits from the skillet bottom.
- Pour in heavy cream and stir in Parmesan. Simmer 5 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Return chicken, sausage, and pasta to the skillet. Toss to coat in the sauce. Add pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce.
- Simmer 2–3 more minutes until heated through.
- Garnish with chopped parsley and serve warm.
Notes
- Adjust heat: Use more or less Cajun seasoning depending on spice preference.
- Extra flavor: Add bell peppers or spinach for extra color and nutrition.
- Cream substitute: Half-and-half or coconut cream can be used for a lighter or dairy-free version.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Cajun, Southern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
- Calories: 620
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 980mg
- Fat: 35g
- Saturated Fat: 16g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 140mg
