Vegan Dairy Free Cajun Chicken Pasta

Total time45 min

Prep time15 min

Cook time30 min

Tender penne gets tossed in a bold, creamy Cajun-spiced sauce built from softened onion, sweet bell peppers, and garlic, all simmered down with diced tomatoes, coconut milk, and a smoky hit of paprika until it turns glossy and thick enough to cling to every piece of pasta. The seasoning blend brings real heat and depth, and a splash of reserved pasta water at the end keeps everything loose and silky instead of gluey. Fresh parsley scattered over the top adds a clean, herby finish that brightens up all that rich, spiced sauce. It's a one-skillet dinner with serious flavor, the kind of dish that feels indulgent but comes together in well under an hour. This version is an easy win for a vegan dinner rotation, especially if you're craving something creamy and Cajun-spiced without any last-minute recipe hunting.

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Ingredients

4 servings

For the pasta

12 oz penne pasta
Wild Harvest Penne Pasta, Organic 12 Oz Wild Harvest Penne Pasta, Organic, Whole Wheat 12 Oz
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1 tsp salt

For the chicken

1 ½ lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch strips
Chef's tip
Choose an unbreaded plant-based cutlet and cook it according to its package - ignore the recipe's raw-chicken cooking times and temperatures - then use it where the cooked chicken goes.
2 tbsp cajun seasoning, divided
2 tbsp olive oil, divided

For the sauce

1 medium yellow onion, thinly sliced
1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
1 yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, drained
1 can (13.5 oz) full-fat coconut milk
½ cup chicken broth
Chef's tip
Use the same amount of low-sodium vegetable broth. The dish will be a little lighter in flavor than with chicken broth.
1 tsp smoked paprika
salt and pepper, to taste

For serving

2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (optional)

Instructions

1
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the penne and cook according to package directions until al dente, tender with a slight resistance at the center. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta and set aside.
2
Toss the chicken strips with 1 1/2 tbsp of the Cajun seasoning until evenly coated.

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