Cajun Jambalaya Pasta is a pasta dish that is loaded with spicy chicken and shrimp, all piled on top of a mound of linguini. If the recipe sounds or looks familiar to you, it should! It was inspired by The Cheesecake Factory’s Cajun Chicken Pasta that has been on its menu for years. For another Cajun dish, try my Cajun Chicken Macaroni and Cheese.
Cajun Jambalaya Pasta
Jambalaya is a popular dish in the Southeast United States, particularly Louisiana. It’s generally a meal that is made in one pan, including a protein, some vegetables, spices, and spooned over rice. It is inexpensive to make and is as delicious as it is filling. It is also a dish that can be easily adapted to fit your taste buds or use ingredients you have on hand! In this recipe, pasta replaces the traditional rice and I used my homemade Cajun seasoning throughout the recipe. If you love jambalaya, you might also love my homemade gumbo, too!
Cajun Jambalaya Pasta Ingredients
There are three main parts to this recipe–the broth, the seasoned chicken, and the Jambalaya mixture.
How to Make the Broth
The first thing you want to get started in this recipe is the pasta noodles. The noodles can be cooking as you prepare the other parts of this dish. In fact, if you feel motivated, make your own homemade noodles! If they are done ahead of time, just coat them with some olive oil to keep them from sticking.
To make the broth, melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Next, add the garlic and cook for about a minute, or until you can smell the wonderful garlic aroma. Then, add the Cajun seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, red pepper flakes, and chicken broth. Cook until it just gets to boiling. Finally, remove it from the heat, but keep it warm while you make the jambalaya.
How to Make Jambalaya
To make jambalaya, cut up and season the chicken with Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper. Set the chicken aside and heat up the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned chicken to the skillet. Cook the chicken until the pieces are brown on all sides. It does not have to be completely cooked through since you will continue to cook it as you add the other ingredients.
After you have browned the seasoned chicken, add the onions and peppers, cooking for 2-3 minutes. Make a well in the center and add the shrimp and cook the shrimp for about a minute on each side. Next, add the garlic and tomatoes and cook for another minute. Then, pour the broth into the skillet and gently stir all the ingredients together. Let this cook for about three minutes. Finally, serve the jambalaya over the linguini noodles and enjoy!
How to Make Cajun Seasoning
If you don’t have Cajun seasoning, you can easily make your own. Making your own seasoning allows you to tweak it to your tastebuds. To make Cajun seasoning, simply mix together 3 tablespoons of the following: garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and Kosher salt; 2 tablespoons oregano and thyme; and 1 tablespoon of cayenne pepper. Store the seasoning in an airtight container for up to 6 months!
More Pasta Dishes
Cajun Jambalaya Pasta
Ingredients
Broth
- ½ cup (1 stick / 113 g) butter
- 2 teaspoons garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 cup chicken broth
Chicken
- 2 boneless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Jambalaya Mixture
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 white onion, cut into thin strips
- 1 red pepper, cut into thin strips
- 1 green pepper, cut into thin strips
- 12 ounces shrimp, with shells, tails, and veins removed
- 3 teaspoons garlic, minced
- 2 Roma tomatoes, diced
- 16 ounces linguini pasta, cooked al dente
- chopped parsley, for garnish
Instructions
Broth
- In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium-high heat.
- Add the garlic and cook 1 minute (or until fragrant).
- Add the Cajun seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, red pepper flakes, and chicken broth. Cook until just boiling. Remove from heat but keep warm.
Chicken
- Cut the boneless, skinless chicken breasts into 1-inch pieces and put in a bowl. Sprinkle the pieces with the Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper, tossing the chicken until each piece is coated with the seasonings.
Jambalaya Mixture
- In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat.
- Add the chicken and cook until it is browned on all sides (doesn’t need to be cooked through yet).
- Add the onions and red and green peppers. Cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Make a well in the center and add the shrimp and cook for 1 minute on each side.
- Add the garlic and tomatoes, cooking for another minute.
- Pour the broth over the top and gently stir all ingredients together.
- Continue to cook until the vegetables are heated through (about three minutes).
Assembly
- Mound Linguine noodles onto a plate.
- Spoon the Jamabalya Mixture over the noodles.
- Top with parsley.
Did you make this recipe?
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