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Packed with cajun flavor, this creamy (and dairy-free!) pasta is made in one pot and is so easy to make. It’s on the lighter side, but will fill you up and give your weeknight a spicy kick that’s full of protein.
Need another Creamy pasta recipe? You will love this Cheesecake Factory Copycat Spicy Chicken Chipotle Pasta or Cajun Sausage Pasta.
Table of Contents
If you like a little kick to your meal, you’re going to love this recipe! It’s packed with protein and makes a great leftover to pack for lunch the next day. Just like one pot taco pasta, you make it all in one pan for easy clean up and tons of flavor.
What does cajun taste like?
Cajun seasoning is smoky, garlicky and peppery. It has a bit of a kick to it and it’s great for pastas or grilling with burgers.
This one pot cajun chicken pasta takes it to another Creole level by using Andouille sausage. You can leave it out if you want, but I think it adds so much flavor to this dish.
Is Cajun seasoning the same as Old Bay?
Although both have several spices in common, Old Bay seasoning is a specific blend of 18 spices, where there is no one specific recipe for Cajun seasoning.
Additionally, Old Bay originates from Maryland and is typically used on seafood like crab legs and Cajun seasoning originate from Lousiana and can be used on all kinds of proteins, like the chicken and sausage here!
How to make creamy cajun chicken pasta:
Start by cutting your chicken into chunks and tossing it in the Cajun seasoning. Then, sear the chicken until the outsides are crispy. It doesn’t have to be cooked all the way through, just enough to get a nice crust.
Next, add the onion and sausage to the pan and cook until the onion is translucent. Add the fire roasted tomatoes, broth and pasta. Cover and bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
Finally, stir in the coconut cream and serve with chopped parsley.
How to make creamy pasta dairy free:
My secret to getting a dairy free and creamy pasta sauce is coconut cream. It is mild in its coconut flavor and adds a rich and creamy texture just like a heavy cream would. It’s the perfect addition to this creamy cajun chicken pasta to cut some of the heat.
I’ve used coconut cream to make dairy free chicken alfredo, creamy chicken and rice soup, creamy tuscan chicken and sweet potato gnocchi.
If you love this recipe as much as I do, don’t forget to follow me on Instagram and tag me with @what_mollymade so I can see it and feature you.
More one pot recipes:
- One Pot Buffalo Chicken Pasta [Dairy Free]
- One pot creamy cauliflower soup
- One pot taco pasta
- Instant pot honey mustard chicken
- Instant pot salsa chicken
One Pot Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta [Dairy Free]
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Ingredients
For the cajun seasoning:
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- OR 1 tablespoon cajun seasoning
For the chicken pasta:
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast
- 14 ounces pre-cooked smoked sausage cut into slices (look for no sugar added) I like Aidell brand
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion diced
- 12 ounces gluten free penne pasta brown rice or chickpea pasta
- 14.5 ounce can fire roasted tomatoes
- 2 cups chicken broth or bone broth
- 1/2 cup coconut cream
- Chopped parsley or green onion for topping
Instructions
- If making your own seasoning, combine the ingredients for the cajun seasoning in a medium bowl. If you’re using premade seasoning, add it to a medium bowl. Set aside.
- Cut the chicken into 1/2 inch cubes and add to the medium bowl with the cajun seasoning. Toss to coat the chicken evenly in the seasoning using a wooden spoon. Set aside.
- Add the olive oil to the bottom of a deep skillet over medium-high heat and allow to heat for a few minutes until the oil is rippling. Add the seasoned chicken to the skillet and cook for 1-2 minutes on each side to brown the sides. The chicken doesn’t need to be cooked all the way through yet.
- Add the diced yellow onion and smoked sausage to the pan with the chicken and continue to cook, stirring frequently, until the onion is soft and translucent, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add the penne pasta, fire roasted tomatoes with the juice and the broth to the chicken, sausage and onions. Stir until everything is combined then close the lid of the pan and allow it to come to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Once boiling, turn the heat down to medium-low and let the pasta simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring every few minutes. If you’re using a chickpea pasta, pay attention to the pan as it tends to foam. When it’s done the mixture should be thick and saucy and the pasta should be tender.
- Add the coconut cream to the pan and mix until melted and combined.
Notes
You can omit the sausage if you don’t want to use it. This will decrease the calories by 200 calories per serving
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
cajun
Um this is the BEST FOOD I have tasted in a long time. I am on a no dairy diet because my breastfed baby is allergic, and so I stumbled across this one. This is going to become a staple in our home now!! Thank you Molly!!!!
I used plant based sour cream instead of the coconut cream and it worked great, is anyone else is wondering haha.
HIGHLY highly highly recommend!!!!
Hey KRisten! This is the best comment! I’m glad you shared about the sour cream. Thanks!
Love this recipe! I want to try using ground chicken next time. Thoughts?
Hey Liz! I haven’t tried it this way, but I’m sure you could do it. Brown the meat before cooking the pasta. It would be similar to our one pot taco pasta recipe! One Pot Taco Pasta
I hope to make this tonight …. But is there a tomato free substitute for the tomatoes and juice in the can? My husband can’t have tomatoes 🙂
Hey Kristen! I haven’t tried this with anything besides tomatoes. I would likely try using broth in replace of the sauce and just omitting the diced tomatoes. Thanks!
Hi Mollly,
Thinking of trying this recipe. Does the pasta need to be cooked before adding? Thanks!!
Hey Marisa! Nope, you cook the pasta right in the same pot!
My fiance and I loved this one! We both agreed to add it to our rotation. Shared with a friend who is gf and df and she was very excited to try it!
I imagine the recipe would be great had the ingredients read “coconut milk” instead of cream. Do yourself a favor and switch those out or your pasta will be sweet and have a tinge of coconut to your Cajun pasta (yuck).
THIS RECIPE WAS SO TASTY, I MADE IT AND MY KIDS DEVOUR. I WANT TO TRY IT TODAY 8/27/23 BUT I DONT HAVE SAUSAGE BUT LETS SEE HOW IT TURNS OUT WITH THE SAUSAGE
Hello there i new to the diary free gluten free . I tried this and it’s good and all but has a sweet taste to it? I used coconut cream but I seen a comment on it suppose to he coconut milk … idk if that’s why it’s sweet . Also thought it would be creamer . But it’s good over all
This is excellent.
LOVE the creamy sauce, my PCOS reacts to the sausage but i just don’t add any in and add a bunch of greens 🙂 great for my family.
Hi, from my screen I see one serving is 1g, which I assume is 1 gram. That’s 0.008 cups. Is g not grams?
So Yummy!
soo good! I was worried about the coconut cream making it taste coconutty, but it didnt! it added a nice creaminess to balance the heat. Really enjoyed this.
My family abd I couldn’t eat it. Seemed promising but couldn’t get past the strong coconut flavor. Maybe I’d skip that creamy part next time if I dared to give it another go.
Love, love, love, the taste and so easy!!
BUT, mine was rather soupy rather than creamy like the picture? I did use brown rice noddles rather than penne but followed the directions to a T!
Any suggestions??
I have made this many times because it became one of my favorite meals instantly! So flavorful and filling. It’s great and easy (and I don’t like cooking).
The ingredients list is incorrect. Molly calls for coconut cream but what she means is the congealed portion of canned coconut milk. Also, you need a pretty large vessel to make this recipe. Bigger than what is stated. Molly is a hack, you shouldn’t have to go through comments to figure out a recipe. Find recipes by J. Kenji López-Alt, he has writeups with great detail on technique and ingredients. This is Busch league at best.
Hey, Sebastian. This recipe is loved by hundreds and I’ve never had any feedback about it not fitting. The recipe calls for a deep skillet. We have a standard deep skillet and it always fits. Yes, you can use the congealed portion on the top of full fat canned coconut milk, however, most grocery stores also carry just coconut cream.
I love this recipe.
I tried it differently and added the brown rice. But is it the same cooking time as the pasta?
Hey there! No, the cooking time would likely change. I would go by the cook time on the box of rice! Just be sure to open the lid and stir it so it doesn’t burn on the bottom.
Coconut alternatives? I have a coconut allergy.. makes dairy free hard. Trying to cut dairy out and most dairy alts are coconut based wompwomp
Hi Denny! I know that’s such a bummer. I have a friend like that. Coconut cream is a great alternative. I know some brands like Silk have a dairy free heavy cream alternative. I would use that in this recipe!
The hardest part about this recipe was finding the coconut cream (I gave up after the 2nd store) so I sparingly used evaporated coconut milk instead. Used cajun sausage and added some shrimp at the very end just before the green onions. I must have liked it because my stomach hurts from eating too much. Next time I think I’ll add some celery, okra, and maybe double the fire roasted tomatoes. Thoroughly pleased… also there are hardly any dishes. I’ll definitely have to check out some of your other things Molly. Cheers
I don’t understand, am I supposed to cook the noodles prior to throwing them in with the chicken?
I don’t understand, am I supposed to boil the noodles prior to throwing them in with the chicken?
Does the noodles need to be precooked?
Excellent ….. my family loved it!!!
Can you make this in the crockpot?
I almost ever ever comment on recipes, but this on is such a gem I just have to! My husband doesn’t do dairy, so I’m always on the lookout for solid recipes that don’t leave me missing it. This one fits the bill and is in our regular rotation! We’ve made it as is, we’ve swapped in different proteins…shrimp, chicken, different sausage… we’ve even used plant based “sausage” when we are in the mood for vegetarian. This also makes a great “clean out whatever veggies are in the fridge” meal, as the flavor goes with anything… we especially like to add mushrooms and broccoli. Thanks for the home run recipe!
Almost *never* ever comment….
Hey Dre!! This is so amazing. Made my day! It’s one of our favorites too. Make sure you check out my entire category for dairy free dinners, I have so many dairy free recipes on my site! I also have a dairy free one pot buffalo chicken pasta coming next week:) would be so great with broccoli too! Love the “clean out the fridge” thing. That’s the best. Appreciate you!
Awesome! Used sour cream because that was the only thing I had.
Thanks, Lynn!!
This was delicious! Omitted the sausage and added fresh chopped spinach near the end. Husband loved it! We are gluten free and fairly dairy free.
Thanks, Julie!! We love to add spinach to this one too. I have a shrimp version on my site you would probably love too!
So I am dairy free due to breastfeeding my last baby. I made this tonight for dinner and it was really good. I tweaked it a little bit to our liking but overall it was a hit in my household. Will definitely be making this again and will be putting in my recipe book of favorites!
Thank you Brittany! Also congrats on your baby:) I had to be dairy free when I was nursing our daughter. Thanks for being here!
Oh my gosh, Molly, I made this last night and it was A-MA-ZING! Even my super picky husband loved it and kept repeating how good it was and that this recipe was a definite keeper! Thank you for creating and sharing such healthy, simple and delicious recipes! I can’t wait until your cookbook is released in July, I’ve already pre-ordered!
This was absolutely delicious! Thank you for posting!
Thanks, Nat!!
We LOVE this recipe and make it at least once a week! We add a little extra seasoning and spinach to it!
Thanks, Bella! I love to hear that!
Would oat milk do instead of coconut cream?
Hey! You could try it but it won’t be as thick. If you have cornstarch or tapioca starch you could try adding a bit of that with the oat milk first and heating it in the pasta to thicken it a bit.
This was so delicious! My 2 teenagers and my husband all loved it.
So delicious! I’ve made this half a dozen times for many people and no one can tell it’s GFDF. Definitely a favorite in my house! Can this be made with regular pasta?
Was looking for a PCOS Friendly dinner and this hit the spot so well! Would love to try some recommendations from the others comments – such a versatile dish!
So happy to hear that!! Thanks so much for sharing!
I agree with you
Such a good recipe 🙂 I had to be dairy free the past few months while breastfeeding and was so happy to come across this recipe. I used bone broth instead of chicken broth and turned out so good. Thank you for the great recipe.
Bone broth is such a good idea! I had to be dairy free when I was breastfeeding too. We have a whole dairy free category on the blog if you need more ideas! Thanks so much for taking the time to share:)
LOVED this dish!!! So so good, I just had to come back and write a review! 10/10
Thanks Kelly!!!
Although this was Amazingly Delicious, we just couldn’t finish it all. Which really isn’t a bad thing, because that was why/how I found this recipe. Lol, anyways. Is it okay to put leftovers in the freeEr or would only the fridge be best?
I would keep it in the fridge! The creamy from the coconut cream might not freeze well!
I can honestly say I’ve never written a review for a recipe before but I felt compelled for this one. It was so good! I used vegan sour cream instead of the coconut cream and it was perfect. My husband raved about it and he always has something to say lol! Great recipe!
Ashley!! This just made my day! I love that you took the time to comment it means so much. So glad you and your husband enjoy it. I’ll try the vegan sour cream soon!
This was a hit in my house! Cooked the chickpea pasta separately due to preference. Only used 1/2 cup of broth and mixed in a bit of corn starch in broth to make a slurry to thicken sauce. also added spinach leaves and was very good.
Thanks, Katy!! Using coconut starch is a great idea. Thanks for taking the time to share!
I agree with you
Can I use regular heavy cream rather than coconut cream? We just need gluten free but not dairy free!
Yep you can use heavy cream!
Could I use dairy free sour cream instead of the coconut cream?
Absolutely!
We love this one – so tasty and super easy to make!
Thank you!
Question: Your recipe says coconut cream but when I click on the link, it’s coconut milk. Can you confirm which it is? Looking forward to making this! 🙂
Hey there! Sorry that is a bit confusing. It’s technically canned coconut milk but the coconut cream separates to the top. So when you open the can just use the thick cream part. You can also buy cans that are just coconut cream. Thanks!
This was SO yummy! I’ve been dairy free for two months (maybe a little more) and my husband and I have been wanting pasta. I found this recipe and we gave it a try tonight. It did not disappoint. I’m looking forward to making more of your recipes!
Thanks, Shelby! I’m so happy to hear that! I have tons of dairy free recipes and dinners:)