Healthier Cajun Chicken Pasta (gluten-free, whole grain options)
Recipe on Food Doodles.
This healthier Cajun chicken pasta has a milk and cheese-based sauce and can be made gluten-free or 100% whole grain.
Mr. Texanerin has been asking me to post this recipe since I first started the blog. I’ve always hesitated because I like to stick to sweets but after having had it recently in New Orleans, I felt compelled to share a healthier version. The version I used to make has 1/2 cup of heavy cream and clocks in at 935 calories per serving. I normally don’t care about fat content and calories but that seems a little over the top, doesn’t it?!
I’m not an expert or anything but I’m thinking Cajun chicken pasta isn’t Cajun or even authentic to Louisiana (someone correct me if I’m wrong!). Kind of like how stromboli didn’t originate from Italy but Philadelphia. Cajun chicken pasta strikes me as one of those meals started by restaurant chains. One that should have been called Cajun seasoned chicken pasta.
What we have here is an adapted version of my healthier fettuccine alfredo with some vegetables and Cajun-spiced bites of chicken.
I don’t care whether it’s authentic or not because it’s one of my favorite dinner dishes ever. I rarely make it because honestly, it’s not the quickest meal to make. I can say from experience that if you skip the vegetables, it reduces your prep time by 25 minutes. ;)
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This was excellent, the whole family loved it, including my 18 month old! For real, can we just be besties so I can try EVERYTHING you make? I have yet to find a recipe I’m not wanting to make over and over again!
Haha. Aww! Thank you. Your comment totally made my day! And I’m so happy that you liked the pasta and everything else. Thanks a ton for letting me know! :)
This looks wonderful! And I love that it’s a bit lighter than traditional fettucine alfredo!
Thanks a bunch! :)
This looks amazing, Erin! :)
Thanks! :)
I never order meals like this at restaurants because like you I normally don’t care about calories but I feel like they are better put elsewhere (such as dessert). However, I do love this version because I don’t think it needs to be so heavy! The vegetables are a fantastic add-in and rounds up the entire meal!
Haha. Yes! That’s my philosophy. Same thing with drinks. I’d rather have some dessert than some sodas!
I’m glad you posted this recipe because I’m all about a balance of sweet and savory. This Cajun chicken pasta is my kind of dinner. I love that you’ve beefed it up with all those yummy veggies, and that you’ve given options to make it gluten free too.
Thanks, Renee! Hopefully I don’t overwhelm you with all my sweet recipes. ;)
Years ago, I fell in love with a cajun chicken pasta recipe in a restaurant, but have never tried to recreate it. I MUST try your recipe!
Oh, I hope you will! It’s full of veggies, just like you like it. :D
I have a feeling that my husband would LOVE this pasta dish! We always like adding a little Cajun kick to some of our home cooking. :)
I hope you get the chance to make it for him! :)
Having grown up in New Orleans, I’m immediately drawn to anything “cajun”. I love the flavors in this dish and a healthier option is always great.
I totally agree! I’d love to eat 950-calorie meals all day, every day, but I’d rather not weight 600 pounds. ;)
Loving all of this goodness going on!!
Thanks, Gerry!
This dish sounds wonderful! I love homemade dinners that just come together. They are so comforting and everyone is happy with the meal. Your trip to New Orleans looked wonderful! Can’t wait to see the recreated recipes.
Thank you! My trip was indeed wonderful. So much good food there!
Oh my gosh, I’m happy that you did post it – because it looks mouthwatering! From looking at it, I’d never guess it was a “healthified” dish (not that that’s a bad thing…just sayin’) – it looks like pure comfort food.
Thanks! It definitely doesn’t taste like it. :)
Mr. Texanerin was right!! What took you so long!? ;-)
Looks fabulous!!
Haha. Thanks! :D
YUM! This sounds delicious :)
Thanks!
I love heavy cream in my pasta dishes, but I too have learned to lighten up a bit :) This looks really good and I am glad you were convinced to post a non-baking meal!
When it tastes exactly the same, I’m all about lightening stuff up! :)
This looks so damn good girl!
Thanks! :)
I must make this!! It’s one of my favorite restaurant meals (my parents too) and those are sooooo high in calories. I love your recipe!
Thank you! And I hope you will get a chance to try it out. :)
Love this recipe, Cajun food just rocks. It’s that simple. I could eat this all the live long day and keep coming back for more. I’ll be googling that app, very cool.
Definitely check it out! And I could eat this all day, every day, too. SO good.
I just love a good, easy, healthy dish! Love cajun flavors too, I am pinning this for later :)
Thanks! And thanks for pinning. :)
I really need to try this. My husband orders this at O’Charleys. Same name too. This would be much less calories.
It definitely would! I hope you get a chance to make it for him and that he’ll enjoy it. :)
I did make it and my husband says he will not have to order it at O’Charleys any more. I omitted mushrooms and didn’t have the Cajun seasoning but he loved it. I did use whole wheat linguine. I also used precooked fajita chicken stripes.(cut smaller) Sure saved me some time too. HA!!
You didn’t use Cajun seasoning in the Cajun chicken pasta? :D But that’s what gives it its Cajun-y flavor! Or did you use something else in its place? Either way, I’m so happy he liked it so much he doesn’t have to order it from O’Charley’s anymore. Yay! Thanks so much for your feedback. :)
Love your lighter version of this dish! I definitely can’t justify eating 900 something calories for one serving for my dinner LOL
Haha. I know! It’s ridiculous. And you know the restaurant versions are even worse!