Description
Indulge in the ultimate comfort food with this recipe for Loaded Chicken and Cajun Sausage Pasta Casserole. Creamy, cheesy, and packed with bold flavors, this dish is sure to become a family favorite!
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta:
- 12 ounces penne pasta
Chicken and Sausage:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 12 ounces smoked Cajun sausage, sliced
Vegetables and Seasonings:
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 yellow onion, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Sauce and Cheese:
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Garnish:
- Chopped parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prep: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Cook pasta al dente, drain, and set aside.
- Cook Chicken and Sausage: Brown chicken in olive oil with Cajun seasoning, set aside. Brown sausage in the same skillet.
- Sauté Vegetables: Add bell peppers, onion, and garlic to the skillet, sauté until softened.
- Make Sauce: Sprinkle in flour, add broth, cream, seasonings, simmer until thickened.
- Assemble and Bake: Combine pasta, chicken, cheese, sauce in dish, top with remaining cheese, bake until bubbly.
- Rest and Serve: Let casserole rest before serving. Garnish with parsley if desired.
Notes
- You can adjust Cajun seasoning to taste or add red pepper flakes for more heat.
- This dish reheats well and can be made ahead, stored in the refrigerator up to 2 days before baking.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking, Stovetop
- Cuisine: Cajun, American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups
- Calories: 590
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 36g
- Cholesterol: 145mg
