Creamy Cajun Chicken and Sausage Pasta

This definitely feels more like a New Orleans dish than a traditional Italian pasta dish, but nevertheless…this is it’s home. Great flavor and comforting. This is one I keep forgetting about but love it every time I make it. Don’t skimp on the seasonings.

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Serving Size: 4 servings

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Creamy Cajun Chicken and Sausage Pasta

Love the creamy cajun sauce in this dish!

Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 20 MinTotal time: 30 Min

Ingredients

For the Pasta

• 3 tablespoons butter, unsalted and divided
• 1 lb. chicken breasts
• 6 oz. smoked sausage, sliced into 1/4” pieces
• 8 oz. baby Bella mushrooms, sliced
• 8 oz. penne pasta
• Cajun seasoning, to taste
• Italian seasoning, to taste
• Salt and pepper, to taste

For the Creamy Parmesan Sauce

• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 T Worcestershire sauce
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 2 tsp Cajun seasoning
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese, fresh grated
• Sea salt, to taste

Instructions

For the Pasta

1. Boil pasta in salty water according to the package instructions. Drain and set aside.
2. Generously season chicken with salt, pepper, Cajun and Italian seasonings. Do not slice it yet, you will be cooking it whole. Slice mushrooms.
3. In a large skillet, add 1 T butter and melt it over medium high heat. When the pan is hot, add whole chicken breasts and cook for about 4-5 minutes on each side until browned for a total of 8-10 minutes. Remove chicken onto a plate and slice into strips.
4. Add the sliced sausage pieces and brown them on medium heat for 2-3 minutes on each side until darker in color around the edges. Remove from the skillet onto a plate.
5. Deglaze the pan with a splash of water and add 2nd T of butter and sliced mushrooms into the skillet (add more butter as well, if needed). Sauté until your mushrooms should look nice and moist, and dark. Once cooked, remove them from the pan as well.

For the Sauce

1. To make the sauce, add remaining 1 T butter to the pan, allow it to melt and then cook garlic in it until slightly browned- only for a couple of minutes. Next add chicken broth, Worcestershire sauce and heavy cream and bring to a light simmer. Add Cajun seasoning, paprika and garlic powder and mix into the sauce.
2. Add Parmesan cheese and whisk to blend for 2-3 minutes to thicken the sauce. Taste the sauce and add salt to taste.
3. Add cooked pasta into the sauce and mix in well. Next add the chicken, sausage and mushrooms back into the pan and allow them to reheat for 2-3 minutes. Close the lid to help the heat stay in. Serve immediately!

Notes

Don't skimp on the spices!!

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