Cajun Chicken and Shrimp Pasta -

Cajun Chicken and Shrimp Pasta

Tender bites of chicken and shrimp are tossed with pasta and colorful bell peppers in a creamy, slightly spicy sauce to create this Cajun Chicken and Shrimp Pasta.

Prep Time15

Cook Time20

Total Time35

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Servings: servings

Calories: 535kcal

Ingredients

1 pound bite-size pasta fusilli, bowtie, rotini, penne, etc.
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound shrimp peeled and deveined
1 pound chicken thighs cut into 1-inch pieces
1 small yellow onion chopped into ¼-inch pieces, about ¾ cup
3 garlic cloves minced
2 bell peppers assorted colors, chopped into ½-inch pieces, about 2 cups
1 cup heavy cream
2-3 tablespoons Cajun seasoning adjust for desired heat

Instructions

Cook the pasta in heavily salted water. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, drain the pasta, and set aside. Rinse the shrimp and lay them out on a paper towel-lined tray. Pat them dry.
While the pasta cooks, warm 1 tablespoon of oil in a large, deep-sided skillet over medium-high heat. Spread the shrimp in a single layer across the pan and let it cook for 1-2 minutes, until it begins to turn color. Turn the shrimp over and cook an additional minute, just until pink. Transfer the cooked shrimp from the pan to a medium-sized bowl and set aside.
Add the remaining tablespoon of oil to the skillet and add the chicken. Sprinkle with a tablespoon of Cajun spices and stir to coat. Cook over medium-high heat for 3 minutes, stir, and continue cooking for a couple more minutes.
Add the onion, garlic, and bell peppers. Stir and cook for about 5 minutes more, until the onions are soft and the chicken is cooked through. Transfer the chicken and vegetables to the bowl with the shrimp.
Pour the cream into the skillet and then add the spices. Whisk to combine. Bring to a simmer and allow the sauce to thicken a bit, this should take about 1-2 minutes. Scrape up the browned bits on the bottom of the pan while the cream mixture warms.
Add the cooked pasta to the sauce and toss well to coat. Add a splash of the reserved pasta water, only if the pasta looks dry. Add the shrimp, chicken and vegetables to the pasta and toss again to mix throughout. Remove from the heat and serve hot.

Nutrition