Cajun Chicken served plain or swaddled in a creamy Cajun sauce on your table in just over 30 minutes!
This Cajun chicken recipe is bursting with flavor, mega comforting, intoxicatingly creamy and will have everyone licking their plates! You can make the quick and easy one pot wonder complete with Parmesan bell pepper cream sauce OR you can make just the chicken! This Cajun chicken is made with chicken cutlets dredged in Cajun seasoning, cooked until golden, bathed in a luscious cream sauce spiked with zesty Cajun spices, bell peppers, red onions, garlic and cherry tomatoes. Serve this Cajun chicken over mashed potatoes (highly recommend!), pasta or rice along with a strawberry salad and garlic bread and you have a gourmet restaurant worthy dinner with minimal effort!
Cajun recipes are always a favorite at our house, exploding with flavor in every bite! Don’t miss these other Cajun winners: Cajun Chicken and Black Bean Bowls, Cajun Salmon with Mango Salsa, Cajun Chicken Alfredo Bake, Cajun Chicken Pasta in Sun-Dried Tomato Alfredo Sauce, Cajun Steak with Apricot Glaze, Cajun Pork with Pineapple Glaze and Cajun Shrimp Pasta.
How to Make Cajun Chicken Video

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The whole family will love this Creamy Cajun Chicken
Your whole family is going to go crazy over this Cajun chicken recipe! It’s adapted from reader’s favorite Blackened Salmon in Creamy Cajun Sauce but now in everyday chicken form! The Cajun chicken is stand alone superb spice rubbed in homemade Cajun seasoning to form a spicy, smoky, flavorful crust that makes everything better!
This versatile Cajun chicken can be served plain over fettuccine Alfredo, mac and cheese, risotto, red beans and rice, or polenta with a side of veggies or serve it up in salads, bowls, wraps or tacos OR go for gold and nestle the chicken in the creamy bell pepper sauce served over buttery mashed potatoes – AMAZING!
To make this Cajun chicken recipe, it’s as easy as dredging the chicken in a Cajun spice rub and searing until golden in a skillet. Next, you’ll remove the chicken and sauté onions, bell peppers, tomatoes and garlic in the same pan. Stir in chicken broth and heavy cream and simmer a couple minutes then stir in Parmesan and lime juice then nestle the chicken back in the sauce. That’s it! Ridiculously delicious Cajun chicken made in one skillet!
And one skillet means only one pan to clean, making this recipe perfect for weeknight dinners, or anytime you don’t feel like doing dishes! And bonus, this Cajun chicken recipe is incredibly flexible so add/swap in whatever veggie you have on hand from zucchini, mushrooms or spinach and watch your family lick their plates!

WHAT is cajun chicken?
Cajun seasoning is one of my go-to favorite spices for jazzing up everything from chicken to seafood, steak, pork, veggies, deviled eggs, soups and dips. It’s one of those spices that adds a blast of zesty, spicy, savory flavors and that instant “YUM” factor.
So, what is this magical Cajun seasoning? Cajun seasoning is a robust blend of herbs and spices that originated from Louisiana, the home of delicious Cajun cuisine. There are many variations of Cajun seasoning but in general, it’s a smoky, spicy, earthy, spicy blend comprised of smoked paprika, cayenne, garlic powder, onion powder, pepper and oregano. I’ve also included salt and thyme in my blend, so it seasons the chicken independently and perfectly.
Cajun chicken is chicken coated in Cajun seasoning then seared on the stove or grill. The seasonings char, deepening in flavor and mingling with the butter to create an irresistible dark crust that is smoky, spicy and irresistible giving way to juicy, tender chicken.


Cajun Chicken Recipe ingredients
This Cajun chicken recipe is made with easy to find ingredients. All of the seasonings are pantry friendly (or should become part of your pantry), just pick up some fresh veggies and you’re all set! Here’s what you’ll need for this easy chicken dinner:

Making the seasoning for this Cajun Chicken Recipe
Let’s take a closer look at how to make this recipe with step-by-step photos (full recipe in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post):
The red appearance on Cajun chicken is from the smoked paprika and cayenne pepper. Please do NOT substitute smoked paprika with regular paprika – the smokiness is everything.
You can find smoked paprika with the rest of the spices at your grocery store. I use it in ALL my Mexican recipes, so I promise your purchase will not go to waste. The rest of the Cajun seasoning is a mix of common pantry seasonings you probably have on hand already. You can also customize the heat by using more or less cayenne pepper.

What pan is best for Cajun Chicken Breast
Cajun chicken is enveloped in a crust of seasonings that should be cooked in a heavy bottom pan such as a stainless steel or cast-iron skillet to develop the deep crust. No matter what pan you use, you will want a take care your pan is large enough to accommodate the chicken and the sauce.

HOW TO make cajun chicken
Let’s take a closer look at how to make this recipe with step-by-step photos (full recipe in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post):
Step 1: Season the chicken. Mix together all of the Cajun seasonings in a shallow dish then remove 1 tablespoon seasonings to used later in the sauce. Whisk 2 tablespoons flour into the remaining seasonings in the dish. The flour helps create a crust of flavor while insulating the chicken. Dredge each breast in the mixture, shake off any excess, then transfer to a dry surface.

Step 2: Cook the chicken. Cook the chicken in a large skillet in a mixture of melted butter and oil for about 4-5 minutes per side, or until cooked through. Once cooked, you can enjoy the chicken with a side of rice and veggies or over pasta or you can proceed with the recipe to make the sauce.

Step 3: Sauté vegetables. Sauté onions for a few minutes to give them a head start cooking then add tomatoes, bell peppers, garlic and reserved spice mix and cook for a couple of minutes.

Step 4: Make Sauce. Add some of the chicken broth, whisk the remaining broth with the cornstarch – or you can whisk it all with cornstarch in a liquid measuring cup. Add the mixture to the skillet along with heavy cream, then simmer until thickened. To finish, stir in Parmesan followed by lime juice.

Step 5: Combine. Add the chicken back to the skillet and cook a minute or so to heat through. Taste and season with additional salt, pepper and/or cayenne pepper to taste. Garnish with freshly parsley and lime juice if desired.


How to make chicken cutlets for Cajun Chicken
This Cajun chicken recipe begins with chicken cutlets. Here is how to make your own from two large chicken breasts:
- Time permitting, freeze your chicken breasts for 15 minutes before slicing. This isn’t essential, but it definitely helps create clean cuts because the chicken doesn’t wiggle with every movement of your knife.
- Next, lay the chicken flat on a cutting board and hold it in place with the palm of your hand.
- Now get out your sharpest knife or sharpen your knife. A sharp knife helps cleanly cut the chicken instead of tearing/shredding the chicken. Carefully slice through the center horizontally (parallel to the cutting board) to create two cutlets.
- Once you have cutlets, pound them to an even thickens. This quick step: 1) tenderizes the chicken as it breaks up the tissues and 2) the uniform thickness allows the chicken to cook evenly all over – without the thinner bottom becoming overcooked while we wait for the thicker top to cook through.
- To pound the chicken to an even thickness, place the cutlets next to each other and top with plastic wrap or I like to place my chicken in a large freezer bags because it seals in all the mess/germs – but you can use whatever you have on hand.
- Gently pound the chicken to an even thickness using the smooth side of a mallet, rolling pin, or side of a can. Take care not to over-pound, we are pounding to make the chicken even, not super thin like in Chicken Parm. You don’t need to be too aggressive.

Can I make Creamy Cajun Chicken in advance?
Yes! You can prep portions of this Cajun chicken recipe in advance so the final dish comes together quickly:
• Prep chicken: Create chicken cutlets by slicing chicken breasts in half and pounding to an even thickness. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
• Dredge chicken: Go one step further and dredge the chicken in flour and Cajun seasoning. Transfer the chicken to a parchment lined plate in a single layer and tightly cover with plastic wrap. Store in the refrigerator.
• Chop aromatics: Chop the red onions and mince the garlic and store in separate plastic bags in the refrigerator.
• Chop veggies: Chop the tomatoes and bell peppers and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
• Grate Parmesan: Grate and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Tips for this Cajun Chicken Breast Recipe
This Cajun chicken recipe is pretty straightforward but here are some tips and tricks for a sizzling success:

Spicy Cajun Chicken variations


WHAT TO SERVE WITH cajun chicken
This Cajun chicken is fabulous thinly sliced over a bed of mashed potatoes, (my favorite for this recipe), thinly sliced over pasta or chopped and served over rice or Louisiana dirty rice. If you’re going low carb, consider cauliflower mashed “potatoes,” cauliflower rice, zucchini noodles or spaghetti squash.
Now that the Cajun chicken is squared away, let’s talk sides. We love serving Cajun chicken alongside cornbread and salad such as strawberry salad, or spinach berry salad in the spring/summer and apple salad, Fall salad or beet salad in the Winter. Some of our favorite fruit salads include perfect fruit salad and pina colada fruit salad.
If you’re serving the chicken without the sauce, then it’s tasty paired with sautéed or roasted vegetables such as roasted root vegetables, glazed carrots, roasted Brussels sprouts, broccoli, asparagus, or crockpot creamed corn.
For fruit, go as simple as melon or grapes or as flirty as Fruit Salad with Honey Lime Vinaigrette, Winter Fruit Salad and Berry Salad in Honey Mascarpone.

How to store Spicy Cajun Chicken
• Storage: Cajun chicken should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for three to five days.
• Can I freeze Creamy Cajun Chicken? You can freeze just the cooked Cajun chicken but I do not recommend freezing the chicken with the sauce because the creamy sauce can break and become a funny texture. If you want to try freezing, use evaporated milk instead of heavy cream and omit the Parmesan.
• Microwave: Thinly slice or chop up chicken so it reheats more evenly, then transfer a small portion to a microwave-safe dish. Heat for 1 minute, stir, then continue to heat at 30-second intervals.
• Stove: Thinly slice or chop up chicken, then transfer to a skillet. Heat over medium heat, stirring often.
Cajun Chicken Breast FAQs
This Cajun chicken recipe is pretty straightforward, but below you’ll find answers to commonly asked questions to satisfy your curiosity and guarantee success:
- Can I use chicken thighs? Yes! You can use boneless, skinless chicken thighs and treat them just like you would the cutlets.
- Do I have to use chicken fillets? Unless your chicken breasts are very small, you will want to use chicken fillets. Traditional chicken breasts take much longer to cook so the crust will burn before the inside of the chicken is cooked. Also, you don’t get the same tasty crust to chicken ratio with thick chicken breasts.
- Do I have to pound my chicken to equal thickness? For the juiciest chicken, it should be pounded to an even thickness. Pounding the chicken ensures the chicken cooks evenly otherwise you’ll be waiting for the thick part of the chicken to cook at the peril of the thin part.
- Do I have to dredge the chicken in flour? Dredging the chicken creates a golden crust that insulates the temperamental chicken breast and keeps it juicy and tender, it also seasons the chicken and best of all absorbs butter from cooking – YUM! Dredging the chicken in flour is highly recommended but not a must. If you skip the flour, still coat the chicken in the same seasonings.
- Can I substitute the heavy cream? If you’re trying to save some calories, you can substitute the heavy cream with 1 cup milk whisked with 2 teaspoons cornstarch, just take care not to let the sauce boil, just gently simmer. You may also substitute evaporated milk whisked with 1 teaspoon cornstarch.
- Can I make Cajun chicken gluten free? Yes! Simply swap the flour for gluten free flour and you’re all set.
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Cajun Chicken Breast Recipe
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Ingredients
CHICKEN
- 2 large chicken breasts, about 24 ounces
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
CAJUN SEASONINGS
- 2 tsp EACH smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tsp EACH dried oregano, dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4-1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
CREAM SAUCE
- 1/2 medium red onion, chopped
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
- 2 bell peppers (any color combo), chopped into 1” pieces
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 1/2 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 cup heavy cream (or evaporated milk + 1 tsp cornstarch)
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Mix together all of the Cajun seasonings in a shallow dish large enough to dredge the chicken. Remove 1 tablespoon seasonings to be used later in the sauce. Whisk 2 tablespoons flour into the seasonings in the dish.
- Slice the chicken breasts in the half through the equator to create 4 fillets. Cover with plastic wrap and pound to an even thickness using a meat mallet or side of a can. Pat dry.
- Dredge each breast in the Cajun flour mixture, shake off any excess, then transfer to a dry surface.
- Melt the 2 tablespoons butter in 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add chicken and cook for 4-5 minutes per side (depending on thickness) until golden and cooked through. Transfer chicken to a plate, don't wipe out skillet.
- To the oil left in the skillet (don’t wipe out), add enough oil to equal 1 tablespoon if needed. Heat over medium-high heat. Once hot, add onions, and cook 3 minutes; then add tomatoes, bell peppers, garlic and reserved spice mix and cook 2 minutes.
- Add half of the chicken broth to the pan (eyeball it) and whisk the remaining chicken broth with cornstarch until smooth. Add to pan along with heavy cream. Bring the sauce to a simmer and simmer until thickened, stirring occasionally.
- Reduce heat to low and stir in Parmesan cheese until melted followed by lime juice. Add chicken back to the skillet and cook a minute or so to heat through. Taste and season with additional salt, pepper and/or cayenne pepper to taste (I like more salt). Garnish with freshly parsley and lime juice if desired.
Video
Notes
HOW TO STORE AND REHEAT cajun chicken
- Storage: Cajun chicken should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for three to five days.
- Microwave: Thinly slice or chop up chicken so it reheats more evenly, then transfer a small portion to a microwave-safe dish. Heat for 1 minute, stir, then continue to heat at 30-second intervals.
- Stove: Thinly slice or chop up chicken, then transfer to a skillet. Heat over medium heat, stirring often.
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Janet Bradley says
I don’t eat tomatoes, can I leave them out without losing any of the flavors of the recipe? I love everything else about this recipe.
Thanks, Janet
Jen says
Yes! It will still be tasty without them, enjoy!
Ramya says
will be making this soon can i use mushrooms and vegan butter as am a vegan perfect for my office meals i took a break from commenting on your recipes as busy with work am back commenting on your recipes will dm you if i make this and let you know how it goes Thanks Ramya
Jen says
This sauce will be delicious with mushrooms – yum!
Lisa says
Wooo! I can’t wait to make this next weekend! My husband will love it and I bet it will become a regular dish. Thanks for your great recipes, Jen!
Jen says
You’re so welcome Lisa, thanks for making them! I hope you love this recipe as much as we do!
Lisa says
I finally made this recipe one night last week, and it was superb! The Cajun spice mix is the perfect blend, and the final sauce was absolutely luscious. I used boneless/skinless chicken thighs for their superior flavor, and next time will try the spinach and mushroom additions. My husband ate up the leftovers when I was at work; this will be made again soon, I promise you! Five stars, Jen!
Jen says
Thanks so much for the 5 star review Lisa, I’m so pleased both you and your husband loved it!
Natalia says
Wow!!! This chicken is absolutely delicious. I served it over mashed potatoes. The sauce is so yummy. Thank you for sharing your recipes with us.
Jen says
I’m so pleased you loved it Natalia! I appreciate you making them and taking the time to comment!
Janet Bradley says
Can’t wait to make this recipe. I have one request (although know it might not fly). You have a lot of wonderful suggestions/additions to all your recipes. If I could must make one suggestion…….PLEASE INCORPORTATE THEM IN YOUR PRINTABLE RECIPE. I KNOW THIS WILL TAKE US MORE THAN I PIECE OF PAPER WHEN PRINTED, BUT I RATHER HAVE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS.
Thanks for your consideration of this suggestions
Jen says
Thanks Janet, I’ll see what I can do!
Melanie says
The flavours were really good, but there was way too much sauce, even after it thickened.
Will have to remember to halve the sauce next time I make it.
Jen says
It’s saucy so you can serve it over pasta, potatoes or rice.
Ryan McDonald says
Made this this evening. I did it with fresh red snapper instead of chicken. I added shrimp in the sauce and ditched the tomatoes and onions. The sauce was slightly thinner that I would like, but dang was it good. This is the sauce I wish I could find on fish at restaurants. It was delicious. Thank you
Jen says
Thanks so much Ryan, I’m so pleased it was a winner! It sounds fabulous with red snapper sand shrimp. For a thicker sauce, increase the cornstarch to 1 1/2 -2 tablespoons.
Jen says
Jen, I’d love to make this! It looks delicious! Can you provide nutrition information please?
Jen says
You can calculate it here: https://www.myfitnesspal.com/recipe/calculator Enjoy!
Tsvetelina Reil says
I made this tonight and it was absolutely delicious. Lately I have been trying all new recipes and all from your site. Thank you so much for your hard work an for sharing your amazing talent.
Jen says
I am so flattered you are trying so many of my recipes, thank you so much! I’m so pleased this was another hit!
Ashleigh says
This is one of my partners all time faves!!
I’m cooking for the parents tonight and guess what I’m introducing them to!
Ashleigh says
I dice the chicken.. and add egg pasta in at the end
Jen says
Yum, what a fun twist!
Jen says
That is awesome, I’m honored this is your choice to impress the parents!
Traci says
This is one of the best recipes I’ve ever made! I was afraid my kids would think this was too spicy, but they loved it. Now I need to cook for a special occasion and this is what they said is my best recipe. It is a very complex flavor, and waaaay better than a restaurant!
Jen says
Thank you for the high praise Traci, I love hearing it’s the new company go-to recipe!
Steve Hays says
Chicken was great. The whole recipe was easy and delicious.. Only problem I had was simmering until thick. Took a longer time than I thought and didn’t get as thick as I thought it should.
Jen says
Thanks Steve, I’m so pleased the family loved it! Next time you can increase the cornstarch to 1 1/2 TBS if you would like a thicker sauce.
Tamara says
This is amazing!!! Will definitely be on my rotation
Jen says
Thanks so much Tamara, I’m so pleased it will be on repeat!
Charlie Cross says
We just had the Cajun Chicken for dinner and it was absolutely wonderful. I love the fact that you make your own seasonings in a lot of your recipes and they are so much better than store bought. This was a very easy dinner too and would be great for a beginner cook. I made it exactly as written and appreciate another of your fine recipes.
Jen says
Thank you so much for the glowing review Charlie! I’m honored that you make so many of my recipes and are loving them!
Mardelle Slain says
One of the best meals I have ever made! I’m an excellent cook and my husband said that this dish was amazing. Restaurant quality, maybe even better! I put in some mushrooms and served over quinoa. Definitely will make this again.
Looking over all your recipes and there are several that I’m going to try. Thank you!!!
Jen says
Thanks for making my day Mardelle, I’m thrilled you both loved it so much! I hope you find many new favorites here!
Gabby says
This was so, so good. It’s very difficult to get everyone in my house to clear their plates and ask for seconds, but this did it! Thank you!
Jen says
So glad this did not disappoint! Thank you so much, Gabby!
Tessa says
Wow, this dish is delish! Just made this tonight for the family and they loved it! We immediately voted it in as a recurring favorite for our household lol.
Jen says
Yay! I am thrilled this will be a new repeat favorite! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a great review, Tessa!
Kazz says
Does anyone know how much 1 pint of tomatoes are in grams? Thanks in advance
Jen says
Hi Kazz! I think it will be about 320 grams.