This post may contain affiliate links, please see our privacy policy for details.
One Pot Cajun Ranch Chicken Pasta. Made in no time at all, this one pot, 35-minute pasta is one you will make on repeat! Pan-seared chicken with Cajun seasoning and poblano peppers is tossed up with bow-tie pasta in a creamy sauce made with ranch dressing and parmesan. Flavor this pasta with a couple of spoonfuls of additional Cajun seasoning and fresh basil for a simple but totally delicious meal!
Half Baked Harvest At Home
20+ new recipes for wholesome comfort food made with everyday ingredients. Pre-order today! HBH At Home will be released on Tuesday, February 23rd!
I mentioned this last weekend when I shared the video for this one pot tomato basil pasta on our Instagram stories. For whatever reason, the sound of breaking out a big pot, filling it with water, and boiling off pasta is always so daunting to me.
In reality, it’s really is not that much effort, but if I can find a way to make a pasta dish all in one pot. I’m going to do it!
I love the ease and, of course, fewer dishes!
This Cajun chicken pasta dish is one I’ve been making often. It comes highly requested by my brothers every time they’re in Colorado. They’re not usually that into pasta, but when I make this (and usually with extra chicken on the side), they are always so excited!
My younger brother, Malachi, says it reminds him of the pasta he used to special order at a local Cleveland restaurant called Danny Boys!
He mentioned that the only thing missing is the yummy garlic bread. Maybe that’s a recipe to come!
These are the details
Ingredients
- salted butter
- chicken breast or thighs
- Cajun seasoning – I always make my own blend, I shared the recipe below
- yellow onions
- poblano peppers
- garlic
- Short-cut pasta – I love bow-ties for this
- fresh parsley – or you could use basil too
- chili flakes
- whole milk
- cream cheese
- ranch dressing
- parmesan cheese
Special Tools
For this recipe, you’ll need a large pot but not much else!
Steps
Step 1: cook the chicken
In a big pot, toss the chicken with butter and Cajun seasoning. Get the chicken hot and let it get crispy; this will take about 5 minutes.
Remove the chicken from the pot.
Step 2: cook the pasta
To that same pot, add the onions, peppers, garlic, and more Cajun seasoning. Cook until the vegetables are soft.
Then, toss in the pasta and parsley. Add water and cook until the pasta is al dente, about 8 minutes. Make sure to add salt and stir often to ensure the pasta does not stick!
Step 3: add milk and the ranch dressing
Next, mix in the milk, the ranch dressing, and the parmesan. Stir until the pasta is fully cooked and the sauce is creamy.
Slide the chicken back into the pasta and give it a gentle stir.
Now, serve it up with fresh parsley! It is so quick and yummy! The ranch really adds a delicious flavor and creaminess too. I make a Greek yogurt-based ranch!
The Seasoning
As I mentioned, I do mix my own blend of Cajun seasonings. It’s one of my favorite mixes and uses the following spices:
- smoked paprika
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- dried oregano
- dried thyme
- chili powder
- cayenne pepper
- sea salt
- black pepper
Mix all the spices together, and you’ll have my Cajun seasoning! It’s so good, and there are no weird fillers.
If you want to add some more green to this dish, I recommend stirring in a handful of spinach.
The perfect dish for livening up an average night!
Looking for other one-pot recipes? Here are my favorites:
French Onion Pasta with Crispy Prosciutto
One Skillet White Chicken Chili Bake
Healthier Homemade One Pot Hamburger Helper
Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Pasta
Lastly, if you make this One Pot Cajun Ranch Chicken Pasta, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And, of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
One Pot Cajun Ranch Chicken Pasta
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons salted butter
- 1 pound boneless chicken breasts or thighs cubed
- 2 teaspoons cajun seasoning
- 1 yellow onion sliced
- 2 poblano peppers chopped
- 3 cloves garlic chopped
- 3-4 teaspoons cajun seasoning
- 1 pound short cut pasta
- 1/2 cup fresh parsley chopped
- chili flakes
- 2 cups milk
- 2 ounces cream cheese
- 1/2 cup ranch dressing
- 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- 1. In a large pot set over medium-high heat, cook the butter with the chicken and 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning. Cook for 5 minutes until the chicken is cooked through. Scoop the chicken out of the pot and set aside. 2. Add the onions, peppers, garlic, and 2-3 teaspoons of Cajun seasoning. Cook until the veggies are soft. Add the pasta, parsley, and 2 cups of water. Cook, stirring often, until the pasta is al dente, about 8 minutes. Stir in the milk, cream cheese, ranch dressing, and parmesan. Mix until creamy.3. Slide the chicken into the pasta and gently mix. 4. Serve the pasta immediately with fresh parmesan and parsley. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
You put pepper flakes on the ingredients list, but never mentioned them in the instructions.
Hi there,
You can add a pinch of chili flakes or more to your liking in step 4.
I hope you love this dish, please let me know if you have any other questions!
This was really delicious. Needed about 4 cups of water for the noodles and only about 1 cup of milk. Added some cracked pepper on top too. Hoping it heats up just as good because it makes a ton.
Hey Elana,
Awesome! Thanks so much for making this dish and your comment, so glad it was enjoyed!
Is the pasta amount (1 pound) by dry weight or by volume. There is a big difference. One pound dry pasta is a whole 1 pond box. Thanks
Hi Leonard,
Yes, that is correct, you want to use 1 whole pound box. Please let me know if you have any other questions!
Could I freeze this for a quick wee night meal?
Hey Cindy,
Sure, you could definitely freeze this recipe! Please let me know if you have any other questions!
Super delicious! I needed 4 cups of water to get my noodles cooked (nearly all of it was absorbed), and only used about 3/4 cup of milk and it was plenty saucy. It took me longer to prep and prepare than what was listed, as well. But will definitely make again!
Hey Lindsay,
Thank you so much for giving this recipe a try and sharing your thoughts—so happy it worked for you!
Delicious!! I ended up using bell peppers because that’s what I had on hand but this was fabulous!
Hey Ashleigh,
Happy Monday! I appreciate you making this recipe and your comment, so glad it turned out well for you!
Tasty, but we needed 3+ cups of water to cook the pasta (and we like it pretty al dente over here). Also, only needed 1/2 cup of milk to get it nice and saucy so I’m surprised 2 is recommended.
Thanks so much for sharing your feedback, Lauren! Sorry to hear you had to make some adjustments!
Yeah I’m laughing right now because when i read that i thought now how is THAT going to work!??🤣 I’m at 4 cups currently
Just be sure to stir often:)
Hi Teagan,
I love your recipes and can’t wait to make this one. Would it be possible to add metric measurements please.
Thanks.
Thanks so much, Sam! Yes, I will get the metric measurements added here:) I hope you love this dish!
Fantastic! Made dairy free with soy milk, follow your heart ranch and parmesean, and kite hill cream cheese and it worked great! Also added some andouille sausage which was a great addition! Will definitely make again!
Hey Payton,
Happy Monday! Big thanks for making this recipe and sharing back. So glad it hit the spot!
To make it actually more “cajun” I used a diced bell pepper and some celery stalks instead of the poblano and tossed in a bay leaf. But it came out really good!
Love this! Thanks so much for making this dish and your feedback! Have a great weekend!
Hello, would you be able to share your ranch dressing recipe? Not a fan of store bought. Can’t wait to try this pasta recipe!
Hi Stephanie,
You bet, here is the recipe:
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/essentials/#dressings_sauces
Please let me know if you have any other questions!
Just made this tonight! Delicious! I did use chicken broth instead of water. And 1 cup milk and 1 cup heavy cream. Very quick and easy. Thanks!!
Hey Crystal,
Happy Monday! I appreciate you giving this recipe a try, so glad to hear it was a hit!
It was good- but 2 cups of water was not enough to cook the pasta in.. maybe I did something wrong but next time I’ll just cook and strain the pasta in a different pot. Flavor was great
Hey Rachel,
Happy Friday!! So kind of you to try this recipe and leave feedback, I’m glad it was a hit!
This was delicious but I followed the recipe exactly and it was very soupy. Is it really 2 cups of milk? When I watched the video it doesn’t seem like you added that much.
Hey Holly,
Awesome!! Thanks a lot for making this recipe and your notes, so glad it was enjoyed!
Yes, 2 cups of milk is correct, but you could reduce that next time.
Have a great Sunday!☃️
Can coconut milk be subbed for whole milk?
Hi Tiffany,
Sure, that will be just fine for you to do! I hope you love this dish!
Have a great weekend!