Description
This Baked Boursin Cajun Chicken Pasta is a flavorful and comforting dish that combines tender cajun-spiced chicken with creamy garlic herb Boursin cheese, roasted cherry tomatoes, and perfectly cooked penne pasta. Baked to perfection, this one-pan meal is easy to prepare in under 40 minutes, making it ideal for a busy weeknight dinner that’s both spicy and creamy.
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 Additional Flavoring
- 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 get it ready for roasting both the chicken and the Boursin cheese with cherry tomatoes.
- Prepare the Chicken: Slice the chicken breasts lengthwise so you have four thinner pieces. Coat them with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, then evenly rub 3 tablespoons of Cajun seasoning onto the chicken. Place the seasoned chicken on a baking sheet.
- Assemble Cheese and Tomatoes: In a 9×13 inch oven-safe casserole dish, add the Boursin cheese and cherry tomatoes. Drizzle the tomatoes with the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil, then season with salt and black pepper.
- Roast Chicken and Cheese Mixture: Place both the baking sheet with chicken and the casserole dish with cheese and tomatoes in the oven. Roast for 20-25 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and the tomatoes are softened.
- Cook the Pasta: While everything roasts, bring a large pot of water to a boil on the stovetop. Add the pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Before draining, reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking water.
- Remove and Prep Cooked Ingredients: Take the baking dish and chicken out of the oven. Transfer the chicken from the baking sheet to a cutting board to rest and dice it.
- Combine Pasta with Sauce: Add the drained pasta, reserved pasta water, hot sauce, and the remaining 1 tablespoon of Cajun seasoning to the casserole dish containing the baked Boursin cheese and roasted tomatoes. Stir well to combine all ingredients into a creamy sauce.
- Add Chicken and Serve: Mix the diced cajun chicken into the pasta mixture. Serve immediately for a warm, flavorful meal.
Notes
- You can adjust the hot sauce according to your preferred spice level.
- Feel free to substitute penne with other medium pasta shapes like shells or rigatoni for variation.
- Make sure to slice the chicken breasts evenly so they cook uniformly in the oven.
- Reserve pasta water is key to loosening the sauce and helping it coat the pasta evenly.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
