Make Ahead Cajun Chicken Pasta
Penne pasta and chicken in a Cajun sauce then topped with freshly grated Parmesan cheese. I do not use a thickener with this recipe. Instead I allow the liquid to absorb into the pasta along with all that Cajun flavor by letting this sit ½ hour or more, even overnight in the refrigerator. It can be reheated in just a few minutes.
Ingredients
Cook the pasta according
to the package directions.
Drain thoroughly.
Place the pasta back into the pan.
In a medium skillet melt half
of the butter over medium heat.
Add the cooked chicken,
stir and cook until hot.
In a deep pot add the remaining
butter, half & half, salt, pepper,
Cajun seasonings, paprika,
garlic powder and chicken.
Cook over medium heat until
hot and the butter melts.
Add the cooked pasta and stir. Add the
freshly grated Parmesan cheese and
stir until melted and hot. Remove
from the heat. Let sit for at least
½ hour or in the refrigerator, covered,
overnight. The longer this sits the more
sauce will absorb into the pasta for
a fabulous flavor. You can reheat
in the microwave or on the stove.
Just before serving, top with more
Parmesan cheese and garnish
with paprika and parsley.
Make Ahead Cajun Chicken Pasta
http://www.InDianesKitchen.com
Ingredients
- 16 oz. penne pasta
- 2 cooked chicken breasts, diced
- 2 Tbsp. Cajun seasonings
- 8 Tbsp. (1 stick) butter, divided
- 6 cups half & half
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (for sauce)
- 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese for garnish
- paprika for garnish
- parsley for garnish
RECIPE CAN BE CUT IN HALF
Directions
- Cook the penne pasta according to the package directions, drain thoroughly and return to the pan. Cover to keep warm.
- In a medium skillet over medium heat, melt 4 Tbsp. of butter. Add the chicken and cook until hot. Remove from the heat.
- In a deep pot add the half & half, 4 Tbsp. of butter, salt, pepper, Cajun seasonings, paprika, garlic powder and chicken.
- Cook over medium heat until hot and the butter is melted.
- Add the pasta and stir. Add 1 cup of cheese and cook until melted and hot. Remove from the heat.
- Let sit, uncovered, for ½ hour or cover and place in the refrigerator over night.
- Whether you serve this after ½ hour or reheat later, sprinkle freshly grated cheese on top and lightly sprinkle with paprika before serving.
NOTE: There is no thickener in this recipe. I make this up ahead of time so that the Cajun sauce can absorb into the pasta for a fabulous tasting dish. This is even better reheated the next day.
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Categories: Cheese, Chicken, Milk Products, Pasta, Spices/Seasoning
In Dianes Kitchen 
That looks delicious!
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Thank you it tastes amazing. 🌸
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Looks like dinner tonight!
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Was just writing a thing for the BBC about how cajun food is the best; this sounds like my dream come true! Can already taste that next day re-heat! Thanks!
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I make this large batch just so we can eat the leftovers for two days!!! It’s a race who can get to it first in our house. 🤣😂🤣
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Looks yummyy
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Thank you 💕
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YUM!!!
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It has a fabulous flavor, especially the next day. Thanks so much!
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Sounds so nice, Diane!
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Thanks! ❤️
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Yum! This looks delish, Diane
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Thank you it tasted really good. I love making a meal ahead of time so all I have to do is heat it up and the dishes are very few.
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Perfect comfort food 🙂
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Oh yes and even though it was spicy, the grandkids loved it. I didn’t expect that…lol
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Looks good! I think you ought to come up with something that involves all manner of random ingredients people might still have in the back of their cupboards, since now that’s where they’re looking these days. 😉
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I need to post some of my wartime recipes. I have posted some but still have more. Trying to make kid friendly posts while the grandkids are isolating with us. Thanks!
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Oh, nice that you have grandkids with you. I mean, I hope it’s nice. Shh… You can be honest. 😉
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Hahaha it has been wonderful. Keeps our mind off of what is going on in the real world.
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Excellent! Kids are good like that. 🙂
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I posted one today. Thanks for the idea!
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Easy, and delicious and great flavours.
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Thanks it is a definite keeper recipe. ❤️
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This looks yummy Diane – good to make it ahead (not that you’re going anywhere and need it in a hurry these days). 🙂
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Hahaha true but by the time I need to make supper I am exhausted! I made casserole today because I needed to work outside for 4 hours and knew I would be so sore. Made it so much easier feeding the grandkids.
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They are saying people will make their own gardens now, kind of like the victory gardens during the war; the story I heard suggested kids have small gardens which they can tend and then they will like gardening … do you have room to give the grandkids a small plot of land to do this Diane?
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Enough for 20 kids….lol
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What a clever idea. I would never have thought of doing something cajun with pasta. Aother one for the file!
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Oh yes it is a great combination Fergy! I hope you give it a try, it’s addicting! Thank you ❤️
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My kids love this , will definitely try this .Thanks for sharing!
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You’re welcome!!!! Are you having trouble with your site? I tried to comment on 3 different posts and it tells me server stopped working.
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Hmmm I will check to see , but I do see your comments now .Thank you for letting me know.
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Yes it worked for me later.
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Looks fantastic. Great choice of serving platter too BTW!
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Thank you so much. ❤️
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Thank you for sharing!!!
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