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A white plate served with creamy Crock Pot Cajun Chicken Pasta, topped with melted cheese and fresh parsley.

Crock Pot Cajun Chicken Pasta

Kitchen Ready Betty
This Crock Pot Cajun Chicken Pasta is a "set it and forget it" meal that transforms simple pantry staples into a decadent, restaurant-quality dinner with zero active prep time. It features tender chicken smothered in a silky, spice-kissed sauce made from a clever combination of evaporated milk and cream cheese for a luscious finish.
5 from 1 vote
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 6 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 6 hours 45 minutes
Course Main Dishes
Cuisine American
Servings 8
Calories 494 kcal

Equipment

  • 6 quart slow cooker/crockpot (well greased or lined)
  • cutting board
  • chef's knife
  • measuring cups
  • measuring spoons
  • garlic press
  • long forks or kitchen prongs
  • small mixing bowl
  • whisk
  • cheese grater

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Ingredients
  

  • 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 2 tablespoon Cajun seasoning please note this is NOT the same as Creole seasoning
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 bell pepper stemmed, seeded, and chopped
  • 1 jalapeño stemmed, partially seeded, and diced
  • 2 tablespoon butter cut into cubes
  • 4 cups low sodium chicken broth
  • 1 cup evaporated milk
  • 8 oz reduced fat cream cheese
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 12 oz uncooked pasta penne, farfalle, or rigatoni are best for this recipe
  • 1 cup parmesan cheese freshly grated

Instructions
 

  • Add chicken breasts to the bottom of a well greased or lined crockpot.
  • Sprinkle on Cajun seasoning and minced garlic; add peppers and butter.
  • Pour in chicken broth and evaporated milk.
  • Cover and cook on LOW for 6 hours (recommended for best flavor) or on HIGH for 3 hours.
  • Remove lid; shred chicken in slow cooker with two forks or kitchen prongs.
  • Remove ½ cup warm sauce and place in small bowl. Add the softened cream cheese and whisk until smooth; return mixture to crock pot; stir to incorporate.
  • Once again, remove ½ warm sauce and place in small bowl. This time, add 1 tablespoon cornstarch and blend until smooth; return mixture to crock pot; stir.
  • Add uncooked noodles to the slow cooker; stir to coat.
  • Cover and cook on HIGH for 30 minutes, or until noodles are cooked to al dente (start checking at 20 minutes for doneness as slow cookers vary).
  • Serve warm. Top each serving with 2 tablespoon freshly grated parmesan cheese.

Notes

To prevent your sauce from curdling or separating, always add the softened cream cheese toward the end of the cooking process rather than at the beginning. Stirring it with some warm sauce before adding ensures a smooth, velvety finish. If you forgot to soften the cream cheese ahead of time, place it in the microwave for 30 seconds before mixing it with the sauce.
It's also important to mix the cornstarch with warm sauce before adding so it doesn't seize up in the dish.
Store any leftover Cajun chicken pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. When reheating, add a small splash of milk or chicken broth to help loosen the sauce and restore its original creamy texture.

Nutrition

Calories: 494kcalCarbohydrates: 42gProtein: 41gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 113mgSodium: 561mgPotassium: 872mgFiber: 2gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 1811IUVitamin C: 21mgCalcium: 299mgIron: 2mg
Keyword bell peppers, cajun, cajun seasoning, chicken, cream sauce, crock pot, crock pot cajun chicken pasta, crockpot, jalapeno, penne, slow cooker, slow cooker cajun chicken pasta, slow cooker chicken
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