Save Pin A vibrant, comforting casserole featuring tender chicken, spicy Cajun seasonings, creamy sauce, and melty cheese, all baked with pasta for a crowd-pleasing meal.
I remember the first time I made this Cajun chicken pasta bake for a potluck. Every bite disappeared fast and the creamy, spicy sauce had everyone asking for the recipe.
Ingredients
- Chicken breasts: 2 large, cut into bite-sized pieces
- Red bell pepper: 1, diced
- Yellow bell pepper: 1, diced
- Red onion: 1 small, diced
- Garlic: 2 cloves, minced
- Penne or rigatoni pasta: 300 g (10 oz)
- Olive oil: 2 tbsp
- Butter: 1 tbsp
- Heavy cream: 200 ml (¾ cup)
- Milk: 120 ml (½ cup)
- Mozzarella cheese: 100 g (1 cup), shredded
- Parmesan cheese: 50 g (½ cup), grated
- Cheddar cheese: 100 g (1 cup), shredded
- Cajun seasoning: 1½ tbsp plus extra for garnish
- Smoked paprika: ½ tsp
- Salt: ½ tsp
- Black pepper: ¼ tsp
- Chili flakes (optional): ¼ tsp, for extra heat
- Fresh parsley: 2 tbsp, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare oven and pasta:
- Preheat oven to 200°C (400°F). Boil pasta in salted water 2 minutes less than package recommends. Drain and set aside.
- Cook chicken:
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil and butter over medium-high. Add chicken, Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper. Sauté until browned and cooked through, about 6 min. Remove chicken and set aside.
- Sauté vegetables:
- In same skillet, cook onions and bell peppers about 4 min until softened. Add garlic, smoked paprika, and chili flakes. Sauté 1 min.
- Make sauce:
- Lower heat. Pour in cream and milk, stir to scrape up bits. Simmer 2 min. Add most cheeses and stir until melted.
- Combine:
- Return chicken and add pasta. Toss to coat well. Adjust seasoning if needed.
- Bake:
- Transfer to greased baking dish. Top with remaining cheeses. Bake 18–20 min until cheese is golden and bubbly.
- Garnish and serve:
- Sprinkle parsley and pinch of Cajun seasoning before serving.
Save Pin My kids always help sprinkle the cheese on top and everyone looks forward to this at family dinner.
Serving Suggestions
This casserole is excellent with a side salad or garlic bread for a complete meal.
Allergen Information
Contains: Milk (cheese, cream, butter), Wheat (pasta). May contain gluten, check pasta labels and Cajun spice blend for cross-contamination.
Nutritional Information
Each serving provides about 670 calories, 32 g fat, 56 g carbohydrates, and 40 g protein.
Save Pin This bake is rich, satisfying, and so simple to make. Enjoy leftovers warmed up for another tasty meal.
Recipe FAQs
- → What type of chicken works best for this dish?
Use large chicken breasts cut into bite-sized pieces for even cooking and tenderness.
- → Can I substitute the pasta used?
Penne or rigatoni are ideal as they hold sauce well, but other short pasta shapes can be used interchangeably.
- → How spicy is the Cajun seasoning in this bake?
The seasoning adds a medium level of heat; adjust chili flakes for more or less spice to suit your taste.
- → What cheeses are included in the dish?
A blend of shredded mozzarella, cheddar, and grated Parmesan creates a rich, melty cheese layer.
- → Is it possible to prepare this ahead?
Yes, assemble the dish and refrigerate before baking. Add a few extra minutes to cooking time if baking cold.
- → Can this dish be made lighter?
Substitute half-and-half for heavy cream and reduce butter to decrease richness while maintaining creaminess.