One Pot Cajun Ranch Chicken Pasta.

One Pot Cajun Ranch Chicken Pasta. This simple Cajun Chicken Pasta is the perfect under-30-minute pasta, great for both busy weeknights and laid-back weekends. Pan-seared chicken with Cajun seasoning and poblano peppers is tossed up with bow-tie pasta in a creamy sauce made with ranch dressing and parmesan. Flavor this pasta with a couple of spoonfuls of additional Cajun seasoning and fresh basil for a simple but totally delicious meal!

I mentioned this last weekend when I shared the video for this one pot tomato basil pasta on our Instagram stories. For whatever reason, the sound of breaking out a big pot, filling it with water, and boiling off pasta is always so daunting to me.

In reality, it’s really is not that much effort, but if I can find a way to make a pasta dish all in one pot. I’m going to do it!

I love the ease and, of course, fewer dishes!

This Cajun chicken pasta dish is one I’ve been making often. It comes highly requested by my brothers every time they’re in Colorado. They’re not usually that into pasta, but when I make this (and usually with extra chicken on the side), they are always so excited!

My younger brother, Malachi, says it reminds him of the pasta he used to special order at a local Cleveland restaurant called Danny Boys!

He mentioned that the only thing missing is the yummy garlic bread. Maybe that’s a recipe to come!

These are the details

Ingredients

• salted butter
• chicken breast or thighs
• Cajun seasoning – I always make my own blend, I shared the recipe below
• yellow onions
• poblano peppers
• garlic
• Short-cut pasta – I love bow-ties for this
• fresh parsley – or you could use basil too
• chili flakes
• whole milk
• cream cheese
• ranch dressing
• parmesan cheese

Special Tools

For this recipe, you’ll need a large pot but not much else!

Steps

Step 1: cook the chicken

In a big pot, toss the chicken with butter and Cajun seasoning. Get the chicken hot and let it get crispy; this will take about 5 minutes.

Remove the chicken from the pot.

Step 2: cook the pasta

To that same pot, add the onions, peppers, garlic, and more Cajun seasoning. Cook until the vegetables are soft.

Then, toss in the pasta and parsley. Add water and cook until the pasta is al dente, about 8 minutes. Make sure to add salt and stir often to ensure the pasta does not stick!

Step 3: add milk and the ranch dressing

Next, mix in the milk, the ranch dressing, and the parmesan. Stir until the pasta is fully cooked and the sauce is creamy.

Slide the chicken back into the pasta and give it a gentle stir.

Now, serve it up with fresh parsley! It is so quick and yummy! The ranch really adds a delicious flavor and creaminess too. I make a Greek yogurt-based ranch!

The Seasoning

As I mentioned, I do mix my own blend of Cajun seasonings. It’s one of my favorite mixes and uses the following spices:

• smoked paprika
• garlic powder
• onion powder
• dried oregano
• dried thyme
• chili powder
• cayenne pepper
• sea salt
• black pepper

Mix all the spices together, and you’ll have my Cajun seasoning! It’s so good, and there are no weird fillers.

If you want to add some more green to this dish, I recommend stirring in a handful of spinach.

The perfect dish for livening up an average night!

Looking for other one-pot recipes? Here are my favorites: 

French Onion Pasta with Crispy Prosciutto

One Skillet White Chicken Chili Bake

Healthier Homemade One Pot Hamburger Helper

Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Pasta

Lastly, if you make this One Pot Cajun Ranch Chicken Pasta, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And, of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!