Hot & Spicy Cajun Chicken Spaghetti

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Feb 9

Written By Anadi Misra

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Hot & Spicy Cajun Chicken Spaghetti

Hi everyone! If you're craving a dinner that's bold and satisfying, then this hot and fiery Cajun chicken pasta is what you have to make tonight!

This recipe has been my new go-to quick pasta dish and I've become so hooked! It's perfect to make when you get home from a long day at work - it takes only about twenty minutes! You only need a few ingredients, and the star of this dish is a delectable pan-seared Cajun chicken. It's saucy and hot, absolutely delicious.

I love to make pasta when I’m actually not sure what to make for dinner! I find it’s not only an excellent comfort food, but it’s extremely satisfying and easy to make. Of course, I’ll plan out some special pasta dinners such as this Creamy Lobster Mac and Cheese with Chili Garlic Butter, or the timeless Spaghetti & Meatballs with Classic Marinara. Other times, however, you just gotta have a pasta dish that’s dump and go!

The star of this dish for me is the juicy Cajun chicken. We’re going to pair it with a quick and effortless tomato sauce, and top it with some fresh basil. It’s bold, tasty, and you’ll devour it in no time!

Cajun?

Cajun seasoning is a spice zesty and spicy spice blend consisting of:

paprika
salt
garlic powder
ground black pepper
ground white powder
onion powder
dried oregano
cayenne
thyme

You can purchase this spice blend at your local grocery store, but I love to make my own! If you’re looking for how I make my Cajun seasoning, check out my recipe here!

Ingredients Needed for Hot & Spicy Cajun Chicken Spaghetti

This recipe uses only a handful of ingredients! You’ll need:

Spaghetti
Chicken breast
Diced tomatoes
Cajun seasoning
Olive oil
Garlic
Salt and pepper
Chili flakes

If you don’t have spaghetti, you can use any other pasta you have on hand, such as linguine, penne, or fettuccine. I love using spaghetti in this because it really grabs all of the tomato sauce, and it’s a classic pasta shape!

How to Make Cajun Chicken Spaghetti

You’re here because you’re looking for a super easy and convenient dinner recipe. This Hot & Spicy Cajun Chicken Spaghetti checks those boxes! Be sure to scroll to the bottom of this post for the FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE so you can save it for later!

Here are the steps you need to follow:

Begin by butterflying the chicken breast.

Then cut the chicken breast into bite-sized cubes.

Season the chicken with salt, pepper, and 1 Tbsp of Cajun seasoning.

Then, heat a pan on medium heat. When the pan is hot, add 1 Tbsp of olive oil. Let the oil get hot and add your chicken pieces.

Fully cook your chicken for about 4 minutes on each side.

Once the chicken has finished cooking, set it aside on a plate. Add the remaining olive oil to the same pan. This pan may have small burnt bits from the pan which will add lots of flavour to the sauce.

Once the oil is hot, add the minced garlic and chili flakes. Cook for 30-40 seconds.

Add in the tomatoes and bring the mixture up to a simmer.

Season with salt and 1 tsp Cajun seasoning. Cook on medium heat until the sauce reduces and has a thick consistency.

As the sauce cooks, bring water up to a boil in a large pot. Season the water generously with salt.

Add the spaghetti to the pot and cook as per package directions.

When the pasta has finished cooking, reserve 1/4 cup of pasta water. Drain the water and add cooked spaghetti to the sauce.

Toss the pasta in the sauce to ensure it’s well-coated.

Add fresh basil leaves to the pan.

Transfer the pasta to a serving plate. Add the cooked chicken pieces and some freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Serve hot and enjoy!

Can You Make Cajun Chicken Spaghetti in Advance?

You sure can! If you want to make this in advance, you could make the sauce ahead of time, then prepare the chicken and pasta when you’re ready to serve.

Another time-saver option is to use some Classic Italian Marinara Sauce. When I made this dish for these pictures, that’s actually what I did and it turned out great!

If you want to make the entire dish ahead of time, it will stay good in the fridge for 3-5 days. I personally would recommend 3 days so that you still have the amazing flavours from the grilled chicken. Store the Cajun Chicken Spaghetti in an airtight container in the fridge.

Watch How to Make Hot & Spicy Cajun Chicken Spaghetti Here:

Let me know what you think of this recipe in the comments! If you’ve tried this recipe, be sure to post it on social media and tag it with #cookingwithanadi and mention me @cookingwithanadi. Thank you!

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Italian, Pasta, Dinner

Italian

Hot & Spicy Cajun Chicken Breast Spaghetti | How to Make Cajun Pasta | Creamy Cajun Chicken Pastahttps://youtu.be/lpVf0O3OmnoClassic Creamy Cajun Chicken Spaghetti is a hot and spicy tomato pasta dinner that you can whip up in just about 30 minutes! This creamy Cajun chicken pasta recipe is light but still extremely creamy, loaded with deliciousness and very satisfying! This video will show you how to make Cajun chicken pasta quickly with a slightly spicy tomato sauce! This Cajun pasta features a hot hot tomato sauce using diced tomatoes - or you could use some leftover marinara sauce if you have it on hand to cut down the time even more! Pair this with incredibly juicy pan-seared Cajun chicken breast on top of your pasta and you've got yourself a divine and speedy pasta delight for dinner!2021-02-10

Yield: 2

Author: Anadi

Hot & Spicy Cajun Chicken Spaghetti

This is a recipe for pan-seared Cajun chicken served with a spicy marinara sauce and spaghetti. It's a great weeknight dinner and can be prepared in about twenty minutes.

Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 17 MinTotal time: 27 Min

Ingredients

8 oz spaghetti
6 oz chicken breast
1 x 14 oz can diced tomatoes or 1 x Classic Italian Marinara Sauce
1 Tbsp + 1 tsp Amazing Homemade Cajun Seasoning
2 Tbsp olive oil, divided
chili flakes to taste
salt and pepper to taste
fresh basil, for garnish
grated Parmesan cheese, as desired

Instructions

Season the chicken with salt, pepper, and 1 Tbsp of Cajun seasoning. Then, heat a pan on medium heat. When the pan is hot, add 1 Tbsp of olive oil. Cook the chicken on both sides, about 4 minutes per side.
As your chicken cooks, add the tomatoes in a food processor. Pulse for a few seconds until the tomatoes break down.
Once the chicken is finished cooking, set it aside on a plate. Add the remaining olive oil to the pan. Once the oil is hot, add the minced garlic and chili flakes. Cook for 30-40 seconds.
Add in the tomatoes and bring the mixture up to a simmer. Season with salt and 1 tsp Cajun seasoning. Cook on medium heat until the sauce reduces and has a thick consistency.
As the sauce cooks, cook the spaghetti as per package directions.
When the sauce has reached a thick and rich consistency, toss in the spaghetti and mix well. Top with cajun chicken, fresh basil and parmesan cheese and serve hot!

Notes:

Adjust the cajun seasoning to your taste. The more you add the spicier it will be. Be careful not to over-spice the pasta which may cause fresh flavours of the tomatoes and basil to be suppressed. Skip step 2 if you are using leftover marinara sauce