• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Recipes
  • Chicken
  • Beef
  • Pork
  • Seafood
  • Sides
  • Dessert
The Seasoned Mom
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Recipe Index
  • Contact
    • Disclosure
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » What We're Eating » Dump-and-Bake Cajun Chicken Pasta

    Dump-and-Bake Cajun Chicken Pasta

    Published: Apr 7, 2017 by Blair Lonergan

    Jump to Recipe
    A collage image of Cajun Chicken Pasta

    With just 10 minutes of prep, you can serve an easy, one-dish dinner that your family will love! This creamy Dump-and-Bake Cajun Chicken Pasta is so fast because you don't even have to boil the noodles!

    A close up of Cajun chicken pasta in a white dish with a spoon

    After sharing my Dump-and-Bake Shrimp Ettouffee a couple of months ago, I was reminded of that delicious combination of flavors. Seriously, is there any better blend than bell peppers, onion, garlic, and tomatoes in a rich, creamy, and spicy sauce?!

    A side shot of cajun chicken pasta in a white casserole dish

    Cajun Chicken Pasta is one of those meals that reminds me of American chain restaurants.

    I'm pretty sure that places like Chili's, T.G.I. Friday's, and Applebee's all have their own version. It's obviously a very popular dish, but it's not something that I had ever thought to make at home on my own.

    Too complicated? Too many ingredients? Too time consuming?

    Cajun Chicken Pasta in a white oval dish garnished with green herbs

    Cajun Chicken Pasta - Easy To Make At Home

    The great benefit of making your own Cajun Chicken Pasta at home, though, is that you can completely control the ingredients. You can use whole wheat pasta, you can add more (or less) garlic, you can load it with extra veggies, and you can make it as spicy (or as mild) as you like!

    Cajun Chicken Pasta in a white dish garnished with parsley

    That's why I was so excited when I figured out how to make this amazing meal accessible for weeknight dinners. With my favorite Dump-and-Bake method, I'm able to pull together a family-friendly one-dish meal that offers maximum flavor for minimum effort!

    A close up of a spoon scooping up some Cajun Chicken Pasta.

    At the end of the day, we're all just looking for simple meal solutions that make dinnertime quick, easy, and delicious. With a variety of nutritious vegetables and plenty of protein, this stress-free supper minimizes chaos at the end of the day so that you can take a deep breath, focus on what matters most, and enjoy a homemade dinner with your loved ones!

    Cook's Tips - Cajun Chicken Pasta

    • Cooking for Two? You can easily cut the ingredients by ¼ to get two small servings of the pasta dish. For instance, just use 4 ounces of uncooked pasta, 6 ounces of Alfredo sauce, ¾ cup of chicken broth, ½ cup diced chicken, etc. Bake in a small dish (about 5 x 6-inches) if you have one, or divide into two single-serve dishes. The cooking time will be slightly shorter, but not by much so keep an eye on it!
    • This is a great way to use up leftover roast chicken or turkey.
    • You could add extra veggies to it that need using up such as broccoli and zucchini.

    More Chicken Pasta Recipes You Might Like;

    • Dump and Bake Creamy Chicken Penne Pasta
    • Dump and Bake Chicken Pot Pie Pasta
    • Dump and Bake Chicken Florentine Pasta
    • Chicken Caprese Pasta Salad
    Print Pin
    5 from 3 votes

    Dump-and-Bake Cajun Chicken Pasta

    This easy Cajun Chicken Pasta comes together in just 10 minutes, you don't even need to boil the noodles!
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Keyword Cajun Chicken, Cajun Chicken Pasta, Cajun Pasta
    Prep Time 10 minutes
    Cook Time 45 minutes
    Total Time 55 minutes
    Servings 8 servings
    Calories 487kcal
    Author The Seasoned Mom

    Ingredients

    • 1 16 ounce package uncooked rotini pasta
    • 1 22 ounce jar Alfredo sauce (about 2 ½ cups)
    • 3 cups low sodium chicken broth
    • 2 cups diced rotisserie chicken or other diced cooked chicken
    • 1 15 ounce can petite diced tomatoes, not drained
    • 1 red bell pepper seeded and diced
    • 1 green bell pepper seeded and diced
    • 1 cup finely chopped onion I use frozen diced onion as a shortcut
    • 1 tablespoon Cajun or Creole seasoning
    • 2 teaspoons minced garlic
    • 1 cup shredded mozzarella or cheddar cheese
    • Optional: fresh parsley and/or sliced green onion for garnish

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 425F (220C).
    • In a large 13 x 9-inch baking dish, stir together uncooked pasta, Alfredo sauce, chicken broth, chicken, undrained tomatoes, bell peppers, onion, Cajun seasoning, and minced garlic. Cover tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 35 minutes.
    • Uncover; stir. At this point you should check the pasta to make sure that it is al dente (firm but just about finished cooking). If it’s still too hard, cover the dish and return to the oven until pasta is al dente. Then move on to the next step.
    • Once pasta is al dente, sprinkle cheese over the top. Bake uncovered for 5-10 more minutes (or until cheese is melted and pasta is tender).
    • Garnish with parsley and sliced green onion, if desired.

    Notes

    Cooking for Two? You can easily cut the ingredients by ¼ to get two small servings of the pasta dish. For instance, just use 4 ounces of uncooked pasta, 6 ounces of Alfredo sauce, ¾ cup of chicken broth, ½ cup diced chicken, etc. Bake in a small dish (about 5 x 6-inches) if you have one, or divide into two single-serve dishes. The cooking time will be slightly shorter, but not by much so keep an eye on it!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 487kcal | Carbohydrates: 52g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 89mg | Sodium: 747mg | Potassium: 501mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1120IU | Vitamin C: 37.6mg | Calcium: 116mg | Iron: 2mg
    « Southern Pea Salad
    Our Week In Meals #23 »

    Follow The Seasoned Mom on Instagram and show us what you're making! Use hashtag #theseasonedmom

    LIKE THIS POST? THEN STICK AROUND!

    GET FREE EMAIL UPDATES WITH EASY, QUICK-PREP RECIPES THAT ELIMINATE MEALTIME STRESS!

    Success! Now before I can send you the free 10-Minute Miracles download, you need to check your email to confirm your subscription. That confirmation email should be waiting for you in your inbox!

    There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

    Powered by ConvertKit

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice

      April 07, 2017 at 7:22 am

      I love the sound of cajun chicken pasta! I've never made my own before, but you're right, a lot of restaurants do have their own version. This dump and bake one sounds perfect for that kick of flavor when you're short on time!

      Reply
      • Blair

        April 08, 2017 at 10:46 am

        Thanks, Gayle! You should totally try this version! Great flavor for very little effort. 🙂

        Reply
    2. Ann Martin

      April 07, 2017 at 2:25 pm

      My family loves spicy food. This looks like a super easy dinner to make on a busy night!

      Reply
      • Blair

        April 08, 2017 at 10:47 am

        You'll love this version, then! Thanks so much, Ann! Enjoy!

        Reply
    3. Dennis Slepak

      April 14, 2017 at 9:37 pm

      5 stars
      Hi
      I tried this recipe and though it was delicious, the sauce turned out thin and runny. Your photos how the sauce to be thick and creamy. Any idea what I might have done wrong?

      I've tried and enjoyed many of your recipes.

      Keep up your good work.

      Reply
      • Blair

        April 15, 2017 at 6:58 am

        Hi, Dennis! I'm not sure -- did you use penne as called for, or did you substitute with a different pasta shape? Was the pasta cooked through, or did it still need more time to finish absorbing some of the liquid? I can't think of any other variables that would have affected the consistency of the sauce, so I'm not sure what the problem was. Sorry I don't have a more specific suggestion.

        Thanks for reading the blog! I appreciate you following along with us! Have a great weekend!

        Reply
    4. Robin Moritz

      May 03, 2018 at 8:57 pm

      Can you boil and cook pasta before baking or will they be too mushy?

      Reply
      • Blair

        May 04, 2018 at 5:21 am

        Hi, Robin! Yes, you can definitely pre-boil the pasta in the same way that you would for a more traditional casserole. That said, you'll have to adjust the amount of liquid that you use in the dish. When you bake the UNcooked pasta, the pasta absorbs a lot of the liquid as it bakes. If you're starting with cooked pasta, I would suggest eliminating most of the chicken broth (maybe just set aside a little bit to thin the sauce, as necessary). Hope that helps, and enjoy!

        Reply
    5. Brittany

      May 12, 2018 at 8:51 pm

      This has become my go to pasta during the week ! So easy to make. Thank you for sharing .

      Reply
      • Blair

        May 13, 2018 at 1:22 pm

        That's awesome, Brittany! I totally agree -- it doesn't get much easier! 🙂

        Reply
    6. Karleigh

      December 12, 2018 at 2:53 pm

      5 stars
      Great recipe! Could you prep it all then freeze it? Or would it need to be cooked first before frozen?

      Reply
      • Blair

        December 13, 2018 at 5:27 am

        Hi, Karleigh! You can freeze it either way -- before or after baking. If you freeze it before baking, the pasta may have a slightly mushier texture after baking, but it will still be okay. Enjoy!

        Reply
    7. Walter A Barbier

      October 15, 2019 at 9:56 pm

      5 stars
      I just tried it and added florets from a head of broccoli. Worked fine. Great recipe.

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Hey, I'm Blair!

    Welcome to my farmhouse kitchen in the foothills of Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains. Inspired by local traditions and seasonal fare, you'll find plenty of easy, comforting recipes that bring your family together around the table. It's down-home, country-style cooking!

    Read More

    Want Quick-Prep Recipes?

    Sign up for my exclusive emails and get this free guide!

    Success! Now before I can send you the free 10-Minute Miracles download, you need to check your email to confirm your subscription. That confirmation email should be waiting for you in your inbox!

    There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

    No spam guaranteed. Unsubscribe at any time. Powered by ConvertKit

    © 2017–2022 The Seasoned Mom     About     Privacy