Description
This Baked Boursin Cajun Chicken Pasta is a creamy, flavorful dish featuring tender Cajun-seasoned chicken breasts baked alongside garlic herb Boursin cheese and juicy cherry tomatoes. Tossed with perfectly cooked penne pasta and a touch of hot sauce, this easy one-dish meal combines spicy and creamy elements for a comforting weeknight dinner that serves six.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 tablespoons Cajun seasoning (divided)
Cheese and Vegetables
- 10.4 ounces Garlic Herb Boursin Cheese (two 5.2 ounce packages)
- 2 pints cherry tomatoes (20-24 ounces or 4 cups)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Pasta
- 1 pound penne pasta (or medium pasta shells)
- 1 cup reserved pasta water
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce (adjust to your spice preference)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F to prepare for roasting the chicken, cheese, and tomatoes.
- Prepare the Chicken: Slice the chicken breasts lengthwise in half to create four thinner pieces. Coat the chicken pieces with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and 3 tablespoons of Cajun seasoning, making sure each piece is evenly seasoned. Place the chicken on a baking sheet.
- Prepare the Cheese and Tomatoes: In a 9×13-inch oven-safe casserole dish, add the Boursin cheese and cherry tomatoes. Drizzle the tomatoes with the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil, then season with salt and black pepper.
- Roast Chicken and Vegetables: Place both the baking sheet with chicken and the casserole dish with cheese and tomatoes into the oven. Roast for 20-25 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and tomatoes are softened.
- Cook Pasta: While the chicken and veggies roast, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil on the stovetop. Add the penne pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Before draining, save 1 cup of pasta cooking water and then drain the pasta.
- Combine Ingredients: Remove the casserole dish from the oven. Take the chicken off the baking sheet and transfer it to a cutting board to rest briefly. Add the cooked pasta, reserved pasta water, hot sauce, and the remaining 1 tablespoon of Cajun seasoning to the casserole dish with the Boursin cheese and tomatoes. Stir everything together until well combined and creamy.
- Finish and Serve: Dice the roasted chicken into bite-sized pieces and fold it into the pasta mixture. Serve the creamy Cajun chicken pasta immediately while warm.
Notes
- You can adjust the amount of hot sauce according to your spice tolerance.
- If you don’t have Cajun seasoning, use a mix of paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, oregano, and thyme as a substitute.
- Reserve pasta water is added to loosen and help create the creamy sauce.
- Make sure to slice the chicken breasts evenly for uniform cooking.
- This dish pairs well with a simple green salad or steamed veggies for a complete meal.
