This Crock Pot Cajun Chicken Pasta recipe is full of juicy cubed chicken, sliced bell peppers, and a light creamy sauce. The best part? It requires only a few pantry essentials and only 15 minutes of prep time.
If you’re like me, you love a one-pot meal. So easy to cook, flavor infuses into the skinless chicken breasts and there’s less mess in the kitchen. That’s a win-win recipe!
This Crock Pot Cajun Chicken Pasta recipe is a hearty and delicious dinner made with zesty Cajun spices and perfectly cooked pasta. The sauce is similar to an Alfredo sauce, but not so thick and we’ve added more flavor – like yummy garlic to it! It’s still a creamy Cajun chicken pasta, just not quiet as heavy and we’re adding more flavoring.
Seriously, chicken has never tasted so good! This Crock Pot Cajun chicken pasta is seasoned perfectly – not too spicy, just a little kick from the Cajun seasoning and tons of flavor from the cream sauce, garlic, peppers and onions.
Follow these simple steps to create this mouthwatering dish in your slow cooker, making it an ideal dinner recipe for busy weeknights.
Why You’ll Love Crock Pot Cajun Chicken Pasta
Perfect for Pasta Lovers: This crock pot Cajun pasta makes a filling, complete meal the whole family will love.
Hands-Off Cooking. There’s barely anything left for you to do once you throw all the ingredients into the crock pot. Making it perfect for busy weeknights.
Juicy Chicken: The slow cooker will infuse the chicken with all the flavors while keeping it extra moist.
Creamy Sauce: The cream sauce pulls it all together for a comforting and rich meal.
Don’t miss out on this White Wine Chicken Pasta recipe for another hearty pasta dish. Or this Crock Pot Chicken Pastina Soup for a comforting dish.
Kitchen Equipment Needed
- 8 Quart Crock Pot / Slow Cooker
- Cutting Board
- Sharp Knife
Ingredients
BONELESS SKINLESS CHICKEN BREAST: Chop your chicken breast into bite-sized cubed chicken pieces.
CAJUN SPICE: Meet the star of the recipe. It adds just the right amount of heat to this chicken pasta dish. I use my favorite store-bought Cajun seasoning, but you can also make your own homemade Cajun seasoning.
RED PEPPERS: Use one big or two small red bell peppers, cut into strips. They’ll brighten up this slow cooker Cajun chicken Alfredo with their beautiful red color and add light sweet flavor.
YELLOW PEPPER: Again, slice them into thin strips. Yellow bell peppers have a mildly sweet flavor that’s perfect for our spicy pasta.
RED ONION: For their peppery flavor that adds a bit of a kick.
GARLIC CLOVES: I know, most traditional Alfredo recipes skip the garlic, but let me tell you, it’s a game-changer!
CHICKEN BROTH: That’s our base for the sauce. It’ll give us juicy and tender chicken. Feel free to use low-sodium chicken broth if you prefer.
FIRE-ROASTED TOMATOES: From the color to the flavor and smokiness, there’s a lot this ingredient brings to the table. Don’t leave it out.
HEAVY CREAM: This is where our sauce gets the creaminess. If you’re out of it, you can use a block of cream cheese to create the creamy Cajun sauce.
CORN STARCH: To thicken the sauce.
PENNE PASTA: We’re opting for penne pasta because its tubular shape allows the sauce to cling to each piece.
PARMESAN CHEESE: Fail proof way of making the dish creamier and cheesier. Grated or shredded, both work.
SALT AND BLACK PEPPER: To bring out the flavors.
FRESH PARSLEY: Just a sprinkle for the final touches.
How To Make Cajun Chicken Pasta in the Crock Pot
Prep:
Chop veggies first. Cut peppers into strips, slice the onion and mince the garlic (or use store-bought jar of minced garlic)
And cut chicken breast into cubes.
Cook Chicken
Add diced chicken breast to your 8 quart slow cooker and sprinkle with the Cajun seasoning directly on to the chicken.
Add Peppers, onions and garlic.
Pour in the chicken broth, tomatoes and 1/2 cup heavy cream.
Cook on high for 3 hours or until the chicken is cooked.
Cook Pasta
About 30-40 minutes before done, add in the uncooked pasta and stir. Add the cornstarch and water. Stir again.
Put the lid back on and stir every 10 minutes until pasta is cooked.
Once done add in the remaining 1/4 cup heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper to taste. Stir.
Top with parsley (optional).
Tips and Tricks
- In a rush? Boil your pasta on the stove top and add in once your sauce is thickened. It is better in the slow cooker because the pasta absorbs the flavors.
- Have more time? You can cook it on low for 4-5 hours.
- Don’t leave your pasta completely unattended in the slow cooker. Stir it every 10 minutes to ensure most the pasta if submerged and not sticking to the crock pot.
Variations to Try
Add More Meat: This deliciously creamy pasta will taste superb with the addition of andouille sausage, a popular smoked sausage.
Spice It Up: Crank up the spice level with red pepper flakes, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Or add more depth with garlic powder or onion powder.
Add More Veggies: I’m all about mushrooms – they’re my go-to whenever they can sneak into a dish. Olives, broccoli, and frozen peas are great additions, too.
Can I Use Chicken Thighs?
Sure, you can switch chicken breasts out for chicken thigh meat. Use boneless skinless chicken thighs so you can slice the chicken into cubes. And with thigh meat being a juicier meat, it will taste fantastic in this Crock Pot Cajun Chicken Pasta.
Can I Use a Different Kind of Pasta?
Yes, you can. This creamy sauce that’ll pair perfectly with fettuccine noodles or pappardelle egg noodles. The cook time will vary since these pastas will cook faster.
What is Cajun seasoning made of?
It’s a blend of spices featuring pepper, onion, oregano, paprika, salt and pepper along with a few other spices to increase the heat.
Here’s a simple recipe to make your own homemade Cajun seasoning.
How to Store Leftovers
With this hearty meal, you’re bound to have leftovers. Simply store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. I would not suggest freezing, as pasta doesn’t retain it’s texture as well after it’s been frozen.
To reheat you can add it to a saucepan on medium-low, stirring often. Or place it in a microwave safe dish and heat in 30 second increments until heated all the way through.
When it’s pasta night, everyone will enjoy this crock pot Cajun chicken pasta. Serve it with crusty garlic bread, dinner rolls or a side salad.
Crock Pot Cajun Chicken Pasta
This Crock Pot Cajun Chicken Pasta recipe is full of juicy cubed chicken, sliced bell peppers, and a light creamy sauce. The best part? It requires only a few pantry essentials and only 15 minutes of prep time!
Ingredients
- 1 lb Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast, cut into bite sized pieces
- 1 1/2 tablespoons Cajun Seasoning
- 1 Red Pepper, cut into strips
- 1 Yellow Pepper, cut into strips
- 1 Red Onion, sliced
- 2 Garlic Cloves, minced
- 2 cans of Chicken Broth
- 1 can Fire Roasted Tomatoes
- 3/4 cup Heavy Cream
- 12 ounces Penne Pasta
- 2 teaspoons Cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon Water
- 3/4 cup shredded Parmesan Cheese
- Salt and Pepper, to taste
- Sprinkle of Parsley
Instructions
- Prep your veggies first. Cut peppers into strips, slice the onion and mince the garlic (or use store-bought jar of minced garlic)
- Next, cut chicken into cubes.
- Add diced chicken breast to an 8 quart slow cooker. Add Cajun seasoning, peppers, onions and garlic.
- Pour in the chicken broth, tomatoes and 1/2 cup heavy cream.
- Cook on high for 3 hours or until the chicken is cooked.
- About 30-40 minutes before done, add in the uncooked pasta and stir.
- Add the cornstarch and water. Stir again.
- Put the lid back on and stir every 10 minutes until pasta is cooked.
- Once done add in the remaining 1/4 cup heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper to taste. Stir.
- Top with parsley (optional).
Notes
See recipe post for tips and variations.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 388Total Fat: 17gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 107mgSodium: 1442mgCarbohydrates: 25gFiber: 2gSugar: 4gProtein: 33g
Nutritional values are estimates and not exact.