Spicy Jambalaya Pasta Chicken (Printable)

Creamy pasta tossed with chicken, smoked sausage, sautéed peppers, and a spicy Cajun sauce for a bold meal.

# Ingredient List:

→ Proteins

01 - 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into bite-sized pieces
02 - 7 oz smoked Andouille sausage sliced

→ Pasta

03 - 12 oz penne or fettuccine pasta

→ Vegetables

04 - 1 red bell pepper sliced
05 - 1 green bell pepper sliced
06 - 1 small red onion sliced
07 - 2 cloves garlic minced
08 - 1 celery stalk sliced

→ Sauce & Seasonings

09 - 1 tbsp olive oil
10 - 1 tbsp unsalted butter
11 - 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes drained
12 - 1 cup heavy cream
13 - 1/2 cup chicken broth
14 - 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning
15 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
16 - 1/4-1/2 tsp cayenne pepper to taste
17 - Salt and black pepper to taste

→ Garnish

18 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
19 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese optional

# Steps:

01 - Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain thoroughly and set aside.
02 - Heat olive oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken with salt, pepper, and half the Cajun seasoning. Sauté 5-6 minutes until golden and cooked through. Remove from pan.
03 - Add sliced sausage to same skillet. Cook 2-3 minutes until browned. Remove and combine with chicken.
04 - Reduce heat to medium. Melt butter in skillet. Add bell peppers, onion, celery, and garlic. Cook 4-5 minutes until softened.
05 - Stir in diced tomatoes, remaining Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, and cayenne. Cook 2 minutes to meld flavors.
06 - Pour in chicken broth and heavy cream. Bring to gentle simmer, stirring occasionally. Let sauce thicken 4-5 minutes.
07 - Return chicken and sausage to skillet. Simmer 2 minutes until heated through.
08 - Add cooked pasta to skillet, tossing to coat evenly in sauce. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Garnish with parsley and Parmesan.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The Cajun cream sauce strikes that perfect balance between rich comfort food and vibrant spice that keeps everyone coming back for seconds
  • Everything cooks in one skillet besides the pasta, meaning less cleanup and more time enjoying the meal with people you actually like
02 -
  • Drain those diced tomatoes thoroughly or your sauce will end up thin and watery instead of luscious and creamy
  • The sauce will continue thickening off the heat so do not reduce it too much during the simmer step
03 -
  • Season each component as you cook it rather than just at the end for deeper flavor throughout
  • Let the cream come to room temperature before adding to prevent it from separating when it hits the hot pan

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