Creamy Creole Chicken Pasta
Let’s just pretend for a moment that your life is crazy. Let’s pretend like you have things going on every night of the week, that you are constantly being pulled in 13 different directions, and that you run around like a chicken with its head cut off from sun up to sun down.
What? That is your real life? Mine. Too. So not only do I have a one-skillet, 30-minute meal for you, I also have a pretty stellar giveaway from the nice folks at BigKitchen.
Because who doesn’t love new non-stick skillets? I do, for one.
They have a stainless steel base so they are hefty. They are hard-anodized and the surface is very smooth. The non-stick power is great and probably my favorite thing about these pans.
Oddly, they are dishwasher safe. I haven’t been brave enough yet to try it but that could be a big positive. The handles are stainless steel which make them oven safe, another big positive for me.
There were two things that I would consider if purchasing these pans. They do not come with lids which isn’t all bad but some meals really do require covering. They are heavy, and there wasn’t a great way to hold onto the pan to transport it.
Overall, I have really enjoyed the pans so far. We have made grilled cheese, quesadillas, oh and this creamy creole chicken pasta that you see up there. It’s a new favorite for us, it’s lightened up, it’s spicy, it’s creamy, it’s dreamy and it’s so. stinking. simple.
The secret is this: Good ol’ Tony Chachere’s Creole seasoning. It saves even the busiest of days. Oh, and a little heavy cream and cream cheese never hurt.
Creamy Creole Chicken Pasta
Yield: 4 servings
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Ingredients:
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into small bite-sized chunks
2 tsp. olive oil, divided
1/2 medium yellow onion, minced
1 large clove garlic, minced
2 tsp. Creole seasoning, divided
1 cup diced tomatoes
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1/4 cup heavy cream
4 ounces 1/3 less-fat cream cheese
1/2 cup pasta cooking water
12 ounces whole-wheat pasta (I used rotini)
Salt & pepper, to taste
Freshly grated parmesan cheeseDirections:
Cook pasta according to package directions.
While the pasta is cooking, heat 1 teaspoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the chicken and 1 tsp cajun seasoning blend and cook until the chicken has just cooked through—about six minutes.
Transfer the cooked chicken to a plate and heat the remaining 1 teaspoon of olive oil. Add the minced onion and garlic to the hot skillet and oil. Saute until the onion is tender and then add the chicken back to the pan, stir in the tomatoes and oregano and cook until the tomatoes start to break down. Add the cream, cream cheese, and additional Creole seasoning. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring frequently, for a couple minutes, until the cream cheese melts. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Add pasta to the pan and toss to combine. Serve pasta with a grating of Parmesan cheese if desired.
Cassie's Notes:
I don't add any extra salt to this, and only a little pepper. I find that the seasoning has plenty of both. You can adjust accordingly if you use a different seasoning or a lower-sodium version.I think this would be excellent with shrimp instead of chicken!
Print RecipeThis giveaway is now closed. The winner is:
#90 – Sarah K. who said:
I love to make this one skillet meal: http://thepajamachef.com/2011/06/16/creamy-taco-mac/ and there are so many things on big kitchen that would be great, but I am in desperate need of a new food processor.
I love making one skillet chicken alfredo with brocoli! SO good!
I follow you on Twitter
I follow BK on twitter
I like you on FB
I like BK on Facebook!
i like the SMITHS BLACK AND RED CAST ALUMINUM MANDOLINE ELITE SLICER. alot.
i follow BigKitchen on twitter (onitnaram)
i follow @BakeYourDay on twitter (onitnaram)
I’d like to have the Chicago Metallic 20 cup tea cake pan. I’d make chocolate tea cakes and fill with a peanut butter filling mixture.
I follow Bake Your Day on Twitter.
The 10 ” non stick grill pan looks pretty awesome and I love that pasta, I will have to try it because I do run around like a chicken with my head cut off!
I want the 10″!
Mmmm, ooey goeey creamy pasta. I’m in!
Thanks for the awesome giveaway! I’d love to make mongolian beef 🙂
love creamy cajun salads like this! 🙂
This dish is perfect for my family! Things have been so hectic for us too that simple and easy meals has been on the menu. I have been looking at investing in new cookware. These pans are amazing. I checked out their site too and I see they have some awesome products that would be great for my kitchen! 🙂
I like both you and BigKitchen on FB.
I follow both you and BigKitchen on Twitter.
I follow you on Pinterest and pinned this. 🙂
Tweeted this giveaway! 🙂 https://twitter.com/#!/MotherThyme/status/188289900091678720
Holy yum, Cassie! It’s that horrible time right before lunch where I’m getting hungry but it’s still too early to eat lunch and this was just the wrong time to read this post today! haha
My favorite one pan meal..chicken curry!
The pasta looks delicious, Cassie! I just won a prize from Big Kitchen so I am going to sit this one out!
This pasta look SUPER creamy!! I want some, ok, I want a lot of it. And I don’t want to share!
I would like the Staub Royal Blue Oval Cocotte Enameled Cast Iron 5 Quart and I would make a beef roast with veggies in it.
I like Big Kitchen’s page on facebook.
First off, pasta looks wonderful! So creamy and full of flavor, yum!
BigKitchen has blenders, I need a blender! So not on your one pot meal thing here, but I don’t have a blender. I would make smoothies, salad dressings, sauces, and so much more!
I liked your page on facebook.
I am following Big Kitchen on twitter
I am following you on twitter.
I follow both of you on facebook
I follow both of you on twitter
I follow you on Pinterest, and pinned this post!
That 10″! I’d cook oh so much! ANd what a scrumptious recipe here. I love how simple and delicious it is!
We can’t get that Creole seasoning back in Mi, but I saw it here in Walmart (Fl). Might need to bring me some home ; )
I love quick and easy dinners, especially when they include pasta! ps I have the same plate! 🙂
Grilling time’s a coming here in NH! The Picnic Time BBQ set looks GREAT!
I “liked” both pages on Facebook!! Can’t wait to see more!
Following both on Pinterest – love it!!
Shared the giveaway on my FB page. Thanks!
I’d love the 8.5 quart pressure cooker and then I could make my mom’s chicken spaghetti!! Yum!!
I like Bake Your Day on Facebook!
I’m following your boards on Pinterest and pinned this post!
Wow, this sounds delish! I love skillet meals and this looks perfect for a weeknight meal! What a great giveaway!!
Hmmm, so fun to peruse the BK website and, I would go with the 14 cup Cuisinart Elite food processor so I could make double batches of pie crust! So nice!!
Creamy Creole pasta looks comforting and yummy! Hope you have a great weekend and Easter!
Followed on Pinterest
I like th emini cupcake pan–for my son’s 3rd birthday!
My favorite one skillet meal is usually some type of veggie stir fry with shrimp or chicken.
I want to make carrot cake!
I’m diggin the terracotta stoneware mixing bowls. I live for my stoneware bowl, but after two broke I need a new set. They help my bread rise perfectly.
I like you and BK on Facebook 🙂
I follow you and BK on Twitter, too.
And I pinned your giveaway here XOXO
http://pinterest.com/pin/21040323229251567/
I would like set of 6 mini tart pans. I’d love to make my mom’s tart recipe, but in miniature form!
I have that exact seasoning in my pantry! I’m so glad you’ve given me a delicious excuse to break it out 🙂 Love a quick and yummy meal. Happy Easter, Cassie!!!
I would like to have the 8 inch saute pan from bialetti aeternum collection. I would like to make a dessert made from chickpea flour, sugar syrup and clarified butter. You need to have loads of patience and strong arms to make it. One thing goes wrong and you end up with a different texture. There are lot of varities to make this recipe, but i like the version presented here: http://vardhiniskitchen.blogspot.com/2011/07/celebrating-100th-post-with-mysore-pak.html
liked bake your day and big kitchen on facebook. My facebook id is Visitr kit.
Following bake your day and big kitchen on twitter. My twitter id is Visitr Kitchen.
shared about this giveaway on face book.
link: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=334885453235071&id=100002965161878
Tweeted about the giveaway… link https://twitter.com/#!/visitrkitchen/status/188423885425868800
My favorite is a fritata
I love to make a moroccan sweet potato and chickpea one skillet meal. It is so satisfying and so delicious
I follow you on Pinterest
I follow you on twitter
First off, thanks for the giveaway and the pasta looks terrific! Thanks for the introduction to a new site – it’s awesome!
Since I’m all about pizza on the grill, I have to say, I like the Nordic Ware pizza pan that has holes on the bottom…it’s work beautifully for me!
I’ve been a fan of your Facebook page for a while!
….and now I’m a fan of Big Kitchen’s Facebook page!
I already follow you on twitter!
….and I follow you on Pinterest, too!
I just tweeted! Best of luck to everyone…what a fun giveaway!
What a great giveaway! Big Kitchen Store has a lot of great items. The teal ceramic Parisian style footed cake pedestal would certainly look lovely filled lemon cupcakes.
The pasta looks so creamy and delicious!
The pasta looks so tasty!
I’d go with either the blender or the cake pedestal. I’d love to make an Italian cream cake for my boyfriend’s birthday and place it on that pedestal!
awesome giveaway! i think their 2-quart pan looks pretty tempting … we need new pots/pans in a big way, so i’d love winning this giveaway!
i follow you both on twitter!
pinned. =)
I like Southwestern Chicken Skilletwith my own tweaks:
http://www.recipezaar.com/223623
PASTA WITH GARLIC OIL AND TOASTED BREADCRUMBS from Cook’s Illustrated:
http://www.recipezaar.com/176655
I would love to have the TYPHOON VINTAGE GREEN RECTANGULAR BAKING DISH to make lasagna in! Our favorite!
I like you and Big Kitchen on facebook
I follow you and Big Kitchen on twitter
ilovemybeagle2
I shared on facebook
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=382239355132573&id=100000287692116
I tweeted
https://twitter.com/#!/Ilovemybeagle2/status/188891875057471488
I like the Nopro doughnut baking pan!
I Like Bake Your Day on Facebook & BigKitchen on Facebook
I Shared the giveaway on Facebook
I Tweeted about the giveaway
I Follow @BakeYourDay and BigKitchen on Twitter
I Follow Bake Your Day on Pinterest and repined this post
i love to make this one skillet meal: http://thepajamachef.com/2011/06/16/creamy-taco-mac/ and there are so many things on big kitchen that would be great, but i am in desparate need of a new food processor.
i like both pages on facebook!
twitter follower for both of you!
tweeted! @thepajamachef
oh there were many things i liked on the site. while i would really like a dutch oven, i am desperate need of a set of mixing bowls or a basic set of knives so would start there.
the eco friendly nested mixing bowls!
I can’t enter but what a neat giveaway!
And I also make Cajun chicken pasta with Tony Chachere’s. 🙂 I love your rotini noodles. The ones I’ve had are longer and not as interesting looking. I wish I had the ingredients around to make this now!
One of our favorite one-skillet meals is pineapple-cashew-quinoa stir-fry. I think it’d be pretty tasty made in one of these skillets 🙂
Quick meals are perfect for me especially on hectic days like the one you’ve described here!
Hey! Reading food blogs after lunch does not help the work day go by at all- instead it makes me daydream of all the food I want to make and eat! Working hard will surely pay off when I have enough to get my KitchenAid Artisan Mixer! I have been in love with the tangerine one since I first saw it, but have been diligently paying back student loans and making do with a little hand held mixer. Oh, and thanks for the healthy baked elvis oatmeal recipe…I added a spoonful of nutella and turned off my cell phone- HEAVEN.
Yummy! I am intrigued with creole recipes. Need to visit Louisiana soon 🙂
I liked Bake your Day and Big Kitchen on Facebook.
I followed Bake Your Day on Pinterest.
My favorite one skillet meal is chicken stir fry!
I shared your giveaway post. Also liked Big Kitchen on Facebook.
I would like the 8 piece knife set from Big Kitchen. I love the summer time with all the fresh produce. Love to make salsa and grilled veggies and would love some new knives to use.
I’d like the Wilton 3-in-1 cupcake caddy so I can finally tote around cupcakes without worrying about ruining them.
Fun!
My favorite one-skillet meal is this:
pan-fry potato wedges.
remove, add can of black beans, Ro-Tel tomatoes, cumin, and fresh cilantro.
When hot, add potato wedges back in.
It’s like a Tex-Mex vegetarian skillet thing.
When I feel like a side dish, I make green rice.
My favorite one pan meal is Shrimp Creole with lots of tomatoes and peppers and some good kicked up spice! Thanks for the giveaway Cassie!
I follow Bake Your Day and Big Kitchen on Twitter!
i’d get CUISINART CHEF’S CLASSIC 24 CUP MINI MUFFIN PAN and bake mini red velvet cupcakes!
i’m following both on twitter! twitterid: elaine633
i tweeted! https://twitter.com/#!/Elaine633/status/190163472447836160
I’d love a KitchenAid mixer, and I’d begin using it by making snickerdoodle cookies.
I’m following both on twitter: ljskop
like making chicken stir fry in skillet thanks
like both on fb Julie A scott Laws