Crock Pot Cajun Chicken Pasta
This mouthwatering dish combines tender chicken, smoky sausage, and a medley of spices, all slow-cooked to perfection in the crock pot. With its creamy sauce, al dente pasta, and a touch of paprika for that extra kick, this Crock Pot Cajun Chicken Pasta will transport you straight to the heart of Louisiana!
Ingredients
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts (2 chicken breasts cut into 1-inch pieces)
- 1 lb smoked sausage (sliced into ¼-inch thick pieces)
- 1 cup yellow onion (diced)
- 1 medium red bell pepper (sliced)
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 3 tbsp butter
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 lb penne pasta (cooked al dente)
- 1½ cup parmesan cheese
- ½ tsp paprika
Instructions
- Add onion and bell pepper to the bottom of a 6-quart crock pot. Place the chicken and sausage on top of the onions.
- Add chicken broth, Cajun seasoning, black pepper, and butter to the crock pot.
- Cover and cook on high for 2½-3½ hours or low for 5-6 hours.
- Cook pasta to al dente per directions on the package. Drain and set aside.
- Add heavy cream, penne pasta, and Parmesan cheese. Mix until well combined and cook for an additional 20 minutes.
- Serve while hot and garnish with paprika.
Notes
- You can easily whip up your own homemade Cajun seasoning by combining 1 ¼ teaspoons of paprika, ½ teaspoon of garlic powder, ½ teaspoon of onion powder, ½ teaspoon of dried oregano, ¼ teaspoon of dried thyme, ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper (adjust for desired heat), ¼ teaspoon of black pepper, and a pinch of salt. Mix all the spices together until they are fully combined.
- Although penne pasta is a fantastic choice for this recipe, you have the flexibility to replace it with other short pasta shapes such as rotini, rigatoni, or fusilli. Just remember to adapt the cooking time accordingly.
- You can use bone-in chicken thighs for this recipe; however, it is important to note that the cooking time may require adjustment. Bone-in chicken typically takes longer to cook compared to boneless chicken. To compensate, you may need to extend the cooking time by 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the size of the chicken pieces.
Nutrition
Calories: 741kcalCarbohydrates: 49gProtein: 36gFat: 44gSaturated Fat: 23gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 158mgSodium: 983mgPotassium: 613mgFiber: 3gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 1955IUVitamin C: 22mgCalcium: 296mgIron: 2mg
*Nutrition information is an estimate. It may vary based on ingredients, brands, and changes in cooking methods listed in the recipe. If you need exact ingredient numbers, I recommend calculating them with your preferred nutrition calculator.
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