H0memade Chili’s Cajun Chicken Pasta with Creamy Alfredo Sauce

Make This Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta at Home for Less

“I love Chili’s, but with a family to take out, it gets pricey fast. I love finding ways to make our out-to-eat favorites at home so we still get the flavor. Mom cooks, Dad and kids clean up, and nobody has to leave a tip. Win-win!”

If Chili’s Cajun Chicken Pasta is one of your go-to restaurant orders, this easy homemade version is such a fun dinner to make at home. It has tender Cajun-seasoned chicken, penne pasta, a creamy sauce, fresh tomatoes, green onions, and Parmesan-style flavor. Basically, all the comfort of a restaurant pasta dinner without loading everyone in the car. That is always a win in my house.

The official Chili’s version is made with your choice of grilled chicken or shrimp, penne in Alfredo sauce, chile spices, Parmesan, and garlic toast. This copycat recipe keeps that same creamy Cajun pasta feel while using simple grocery-store ingredients you can cook in about 30 minutes. It is rich, flavorful, and easy enough for a weeknight dinner, but still special enough for a Friday night “we are staying home and saving money” meal.

This recipe has been a family favorite for years. My family loves the Cajun Chicken Pasta at Chili’s, and every time I make this copycat version, they remind me that it is a favorite homemade dinner. I am not mad about that because it is fast, filling, and much less expensive than ordering pasta for the whole family.

Why You’ll Love This Copycat Recipe

This Chili’s Cajun Chicken Pasta copycat recipe is one of those dinners that feels a little fancy but is actually very doable. You can have the pasta boiling, the chicken cooking, and the sauce coming together at the same time, which keeps the total cook time right around 30 minutes.

I also love that the flavor is easy to adjust. Some Cajun seasonings are mild and smoky, while others bring a lot more heat. Start with less if your family prefers a milder pasta, then add more as needed. You still get the creamy Alfredo-style sauce, the seasoned chicken, and the fresh toppings, but you can make it work for kids, spice lovers, or anyone somewhere in the middle.

What Readers Are Saying

This Chili’s copycat recipe has earned 5-star love from readers who made it for their own families. Terrie shared that her family loved it and said it was simple to make and tasted great. Emily said it tasted exactly like Chili’s Cajun Chicken Pasta — even better than she remembered — and that it was good enough to add to their weekly or biweekly routine.

One helpful recipe note from the comments: this particular sauce is not a traditional heavy cream and Parmesan Alfredo sauce. It is a creamy copycat-style sauce made to match the flavor of the restaurant favorite while keeping the ingredients simple.

Ingredients You’ll Need

The ingredients are simple, but the finished pasta tastes like something you would order at a restaurant. You will need chicken breasts, Cajun seasoning, penne pasta, butter, garlic, cream, Parmesan cheese, tomatoes, and green onions. The fresh toppings really do matter here because they balance the creamy sauce and give the pasta that Chili’s-style finish.

If your chicken breasts are thick, pound them to about 1-inch thickness before seasoning. This helps them cook faster and more evenly, which means juicy chicken instead of dry chicken. I like to place the chicken in a large zip-top bag or between pieces of parchment, then use a meat pounder to gently flatten it before adding the Cajun seasoning.

For the pasta, penne works best because it holds the sauce well and matches the restaurant-style version. I usually use a 14.5-ounce or 16-ounce box depending on what I have on hand. The yield can vary slightly based on how much pasta you use, but the sauce is forgiving.

How to Make Chili’s Cajun Chicken Pasta at Home

Start by bringing a large pot of salted water to a boil and cooking the penne according to the package directions. While the pasta cooks, season the chicken with Cajun seasoning and cook it in a skillet until it is browned on the outside and cooked through. Let the chicken rest for a few minutes before slicing so the juices stay in the meat.

While the chicken rests, make the creamy sauce. Melt butter in the skillet, add garlic, then whisk in the cream and Parmesan until smooth. The sauce should be creamy and rich, but not overly thick. If it gets too thick, add a splash of pasta water to loosen it up before tossing it with the cooked penne.

Once the pasta and sauce are combined, plate the pasta and top it with sliced Cajun chicken. Add diced tomato, green onions, and extra Parmesan cheese over the top. Those fresh toppings make the whole dish feel brighter and more restaurant-like.

Helpful Recipe Tips

Pound the chicken evenly. This is one of the easiest ways to make sure your chicken cooks quickly and stays tender. Thick chicken breasts can cook unevenly, leaving the outside done before the middle is ready.

Use the Cajun seasoning your family likes. Some blends are saltier or spicier than others. Taste your seasoning first if you are using a new brand, and start with a lighter amount if you are cooking for kids or spice-sensitive eaters.

Save a little pasta water. Before draining the penne, reserve about 1/2 cup of the pasta water. If the sauce thickens too much, a splash of that starchy water helps loosen it without making it watery.

Add the toppings right before serving. Fresh tomato and green onion give this creamy pasta a nice pop of freshness. Add them at the end so they stay bright and crisp.

Easy Variations

Make it with shrimp: Chili’s offers Cajun Pasta with grilled chicken or shrimp, and shrimp is a great option at home too. Season the shrimp lightly with Cajun seasoning and cook just until pink and opaque. Shrimp cooks quickly, so keep an eye on it.

Add vegetables: Bell peppers, mushrooms, spinach, or broccoli can all work well with the creamy Cajun sauce. If you want this to feel a little more balanced, adding veggies is an easy way to stretch the meal.

Make it milder: Use less Cajun seasoning on the chicken and add more Parmesan to the sauce. You can always sprinkle extra seasoning over individual servings for anyone who wants more heat.

Make it extra saucy: If your family loves creamy pasta, increase the sauce slightly or use less pasta. Pasta absorbs sauce as it sits, so extra sauce can be helpful if you plan on leftovers.

What to Serve with Cajun Chicken Pasta

This pasta is rich and filling, so simple sides are best. A green salad, steamed broccoli, roasted vegetables, or garlic bread all pair nicely. Since the restaurant version is served with garlic toast, that is an easy and delicious side if you want the full copycat dinner experience.

You can also serve smaller portions of the pasta with a big salad if you want to stretch the recipe or lighten up the meal a bit. Either way, it is the kind of dinner that makes everyone happy to come to the table.

How to Store and Reheat Leftovers

Store leftover Cajun chicken pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The sauce will thicken as it chills, so add a splash of milk, cream, or water when reheating.

For best results, reheat gently on the stovetop over low heat, stirring often until warmed through. You can also microwave individual portions in short intervals, stirring between each one. Add the fresh tomato and green onion after reheating if possible so the toppings still taste fresh.

Printable Recipe Card

Use the recipe card below for the exact measurements and step-by-step instructions. This is a great recipe to keep handy for those nights when you want restaurant-style comfort food without the restaurant bill.

Chili's Cajun Chicken Pasta Copycat Recipe

This copycat recipe of Chili's Cajun Chicken Pasta is delicious, easy, and inexpensive! One of our favorites!

5 / 5 ( 13 Reviews )

Print 📄PDF Rate

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes minutes

Serves: 6

Adjust Servings: 6

US CustomaryMetric

Ingredients

• 10 to 14.5 ounces penne pasta
• 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts about 2 breasts
• 4 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

Sauce:

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 3 cups milk
• 4 ounces cream cheese room temperature
• ½ teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder

Topping:

• 2 tomatoes diced
• ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
• 4 green onions sliced

Instructions

• Cook penne pasta according to directions on the box. Drain pasta and set aside.
• Rinse chicken breasts and pat dry with paper towel, then place in a large resealable plastic bag. If the meat is thick, pound it down to about 1-inch thickness. Add the Cajun seasoning to the bag, seal bag, and shake thoroughly until chicken is evenly coated.
• In a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add chicken to skillet, turning occasionally until cooked through.
• In a separate skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Evenly sprinkle on the flour and whisk together. Keep whisking for another 5 minutes or so.
• Slowly whisk in the milk, about 1 cup at a time. Add the cream cheese. Cook, whisking often, until it is uniform and reaches your desired consistency, about 5-10 minutes. (It will thicken a bit more when removed from heat.)
• Stir in the lemon pepper, salt, black pepper and garlic powder. Pour cream sauce over cooked noodles or just add the pasta to the skillet with the sauce.
• Slice chicken breasts into strips. Serve pasta on serving plates, top with chicken breast strips, and sprinkle on diced tomatoes, green onions, and Parmesan cheese.

Recipe Notes

Pasta amount in one box will vary by brand and variety.

Nutrition

Calories: 611kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 47g | Fat: 25g | Sodium: 818mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 10g

Recipe Adapted From: Food.com

Frequently Asked Questions About Chili’s Cajun Chicken Pasta

Is this an exact Chili’s Cajun Chicken Pasta recipe?

This is a homemade copycat version inspired by Chili’s Cajun Pasta. It is designed to give you the same creamy Cajun chicken pasta feel using simple ingredients you can find at the grocery store.

Can I use shrimp instead of chicken?

Yes. Shrimp works really well in this recipe. Season it lightly with Cajun seasoning and cook it just until pink and opaque, then serve it over the creamy penne pasta.

What kind of pasta should I use?

Penne is the best choice for this recipe because it holds the creamy Alfredo-style sauce well and matches the Chili’s-style pasta. You can use another short pasta if that is what you have.

How spicy is Cajun chicken pasta?

It depends on the Cajun seasoning you use. Some blends are mild, while others are much spicier. Start with less seasoning if you are unsure, then add more to taste.

Can I make this Cajun chicken pasta ahead of time?

You can make it ahead, but it tastes best fresh. If making ahead, store the pasta and chicken in the refrigerator, then reheat gently with a splash of milk, cream, or water to loosen the sauce.

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If you love this creamy copycat pasta, you may also enjoy browsing more copycat recipes and easy family dinner ideas. Recipes like this are one of my favorite ways to save money while still making dinner feel fun.

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Helpful Kitchen Tool

A silicone whisk is handy for creamy sauces, especially when whisking in a nonstick pan.