Description
A comforting and hands-off dinner featuring bold Cajun flavors and creamy sauce, cooked slowly in a crock pot.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 pounds chicken breasts or thighs
- 12–16 ounces pasta (penne, rigatoni, or fusilli)
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
- 2–3 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 3–4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 bell pepper, sliced
- 8 ounces mushrooms, sliced
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley or chives for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare ingredients: Trim and season the chicken with salt, pepper, and half the Cajun seasoning. Chop the onions, slice the peppers, and clean the mushrooms.
- Sear the chicken (optional but recommended): Heat butter in a skillet and brown the chicken for 2–3 minutes per side.
- Sauté vegetables: In the same skillet, add more butter and sauté onion, garlic, pepper, and mushrooms until soft; deglaze with a splash of broth.
- Add to slow cooker: Place seared chicken and sautéed vegetables in the crock pot. Pour in the remaining broth and sprinkle the rest of the Cajun seasoning. Stir gently.
- Cook low and slow: Cover and cook on low for 4–5 hours or on high for 2–3 hours. Shred the chicken, return it to the crock pot and stir in heavy cream and Parmesan, then add lemon juice and adjust seasoning.
- Add pasta and finish: If using dried pasta, cook it al dente and fold into the sauce; alternatively, add partially cooked pasta in the last 20–30 minutes of cooking. Serve garnished with parsley or chives.
Notes
Sear protein first for richer flavor. Adjust Cajun seasoning gradually to taste. For a smokier profile, add smoked sausage if desired.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 300 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 27g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
Keywords: Cajun, chicken pasta, creamy pasta, slow cooker recipe, comfort food
