Description
This Loaded Chicken and Cajun Sausage Pasta Casserole is a delicious and comforting one-dish meal that combines tender chicken, spicy Cajun sausage, colorful bell peppers, and creamy cheeses, all baked to perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta:
- 12 ounces penne or rigatoni pasta
Protein:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed
- 12 ounces smoked Cajun sausage, sliced
Veggies:
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 1 small red onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Cheese Sauce:
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Garnish:
- Chopped green onions and parsley
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 375°F and grease a 9×13-inch casserole dish.
- Cook Pasta: Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente; drain and set aside.
- Cook Chicken: In a large skillet, cook the cubed chicken in olive oil until browned and cooked through. Set aside.
- Cook Sausage and Veggies: In the same skillet, cook the sliced sausage until lightly browned. Add bell peppers, onion, and garlic; sauté until tender. Stir in seasonings.
- Make Cheese Sauce: In a saucepan, melt butter, whisk in flour, then gradually whisk in milk and cream until thickened. Stir in cheeses until melted.
- Combine and Bake: Mix cooked pasta, chicken, sausage mixture, and cheese sauce in a bowl. Pour into baking dish, top with Parmesan, and bake until bubbly.
- Rest and Garnish: Let the casserole rest, then garnish with green onions and parsley before serving.
Notes
- For extra heat, add cayenne pepper or hot sausage. Great for meal prep and reheats well. Customize with shrimp or veggies for variations.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Cajun-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups
- Calories: 630
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 940mg
- Fat: 35g
- Saturated Fat: 17g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 36g
- Cholesterol: 135mg
