Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta: The Ultimate Flavor-Packed Dinner

Ingredients:The Cajun Chicken Marinade

• 2 Chicken breasts (thinly sliced)
• 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning
• 1 tsp Onion powder
• 1 tsp Garlic powder
• 1 tsp Dried parsley
• ½ tsp Paprika
• 1 tbsp Oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Ingredients:The Creamy Sauce & Pasta

• 250g Penne pasta
• 1 tbsp Unsalted butter
• ½ Onion, chopped
• ½ Capsicum, chopped
• 1 Tomato, diced
• 200ml Heavy cream
• 70g Cream cheese
• 1 tsp Cajun seasoning
• ½ cup Chicken stock
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Garnish: Fresh parsley and spring onion, chopped

Instructions:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil with a splash of oil. Cook the penne pasta until al dente. Drain, rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process, and set aside.
• Cut the chicken breasts horizontally into thin cutlets. In a bowl, combine the oil, Cajun seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder, dried parsley, salt, pepper and paprika. Coat the chicken thoroughly and let it marinate for 30 minutes to lock in the flavor.
• Heat oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Cook the chicken on both sides until golden brown and fully cooked. Remove from the pan and slice into bite-sized pieces.
• In the same pan, melt the unsalted butter. Add the chopped onion, capsicum, and diced tomatoes. Sauté until the onions are translucent and the vegetables are tender.
• Pour in the heavy cream and chicken stock. Stir in the cream cheese and the remaining teaspoon of Cajun seasoning. Let the sauce simmer gently, adding salt and pepper to taste, until the texture is thick and glossy.
• Toss the cooked chicken and penne pasta into the pan. Stir well until every piece of pasta is coated in that decadent sauce. Garnish with a handful of fresh parsley and spring onions for a burst of color and freshness.