Description
This Baked Boursin Cajun Chicken Pasta is a flavorful and creamy one-dish meal featuring tender cajun-seasoned chicken breasts roasted alongside garlic herb Boursin cheese and cherry tomatoes. Tossed with perfectly cooked penne pasta and a hint of hot sauce, this recipe offers a comforting, slightly spicy dinner that’s simple to prepare in under 40 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 3 tablespoons olive oil (divided)
- 4 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)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Pasta and Seasoning
- 1 pound penne pasta (or medium pasta shells)
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce (adjust to your spice preference)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F to prepare for roasting the chicken, cheese, and tomatoes.
- Prepare Chicken: Slice the chicken breasts lengthwise to create 4 thin pieces. Coat them evenly with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and 3 tablespoons of Cajun seasoning. Arrange the seasoned chicken breasts on a baking sheet.
- Prepare 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 Ingredients: Place both the baking sheet with the chicken and the casserole dish with cheese and tomatoes into the oven. Roast for 20 to 25 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and tomatoes are softened.
- Cook Pasta: While roasting, bring a large pot of water to a boil on the stove. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water and then drain the pasta.
- Remove from Oven: Take the baking dish and baking sheet out of the oven. Transfer the cooked chicken to a cutting board for dicing.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the drained pasta, reserved pasta water, hot sauce, and remaining tablespoon of Cajun seasoning to the casserole dish with Boursin and tomatoes. Stir well to create a creamy sauce.
- Finish and Serve: Dice the cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces and mix it into the pasta dish. Serve immediately while hot for a delicious, creamy, and spicy pasta meal.
Notes
- You can adjust the amount of hot sauce to vary the spice level.
- Use penne or medium pasta shells for best sauce coating.
- For a milder flavor, reduce Cajun seasoning to taste.
- If you prefer, substitute chicken thighs but adjust cooking time accordingly.
- Reserve pasta water is key for adjusting sauce consistency and helping the sauce coat the pasta better.
