Description
This Baked Boursin Cajun Chicken Pasta is a flavorful, creamy, and comforting one-dish meal combining tender Cajun-spiced chicken breasts, luscious Garlic Herb Boursin cheese, roasted cherry tomatoes, and perfectly cooked penne pasta tossed in a mildly spicy sauce. The dish is baked to meld the robust Cajun flavors and creamy cheese, offering an indulgent yet easy dinner option for six servings.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken:
- 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 3 tablespoons olive oil (divided)
- 4 tablespoons Cajun seasoning (divided)
Cheese and Vegetables:
- 10.4 ounces Garlic Herb Boursin Cheese (two 5.2 ounce packages)
- 2 pints cherry tomatoes (20-24 ounces or 4 cups)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Pasta and Sauce:
- 1 pound penne pasta (or medium pasta shells)
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce (adjust to your spice preference)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F to prepare for roasting the chicken, cheese, and tomatoes together.
- Prepare the chicken: Slice each chicken breast in half lengthwise to create four thinner pieces. Coat the chicken pieces with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, then evenly sprinkle 3 tablespoons of Cajun seasoning over them. Arrange the chicken pieces on a baking sheet.
- Prepare the cheese and tomatoes: In a 9 by 13 inch oven-safe casserole dish, place the Garlic Herb Boursin cheese and add the cherry tomatoes on top. Drizzle the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil over the tomatoes and season with salt and black pepper.
- Roast chicken and vegetables: Place both the baking sheet with chicken and the casserole dish with cheese and tomatoes in the oven. Roast them for 20 to 25 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through and the tomatoes are soft.
- Cook the pasta: While the chicken roasts, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil on the stovetop. Add the penne pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Before draining, reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta.
- Remove from oven and prepare chicken: Take the casserole dish and baking sheet out of the oven. Transfer the cooked chicken pieces to a cutting board and dice them into bite-sized pieces.
- Combine pasta with sauce and chicken: Add the cooked pasta, reserved pasta water, hot sauce, and the remaining 1 tablespoon of Cajun seasoning to the casserole dish with the Boursin cheese and roasted tomatoes. Stir everything together until well combined and creamy. Finally, mix in the diced chicken.
- Serve immediately: Dish out the creamy Cajun chicken pasta while warm and enjoy this hearty, flavorful meal.
Notes
- Adjust the amount of hot sauce to suit your spice tolerance.
- Reserve pasta water to help loosen and create a silky sauce.
- Use penne or medium pasta shells for best texture and sauce adherence.
- You can make your own Cajun seasoning or use store-bought.
- For a more intense roasted flavor, consider broiling the tomatoes and cheese briefly after baking.
