Description
This Baked Boursin Cajun Chicken Pasta combines tender, spicy cajun-seasoned chicken breasts with creamy garlic herb Boursin cheese and roasted cherry tomatoes, all tossed with perfectly cooked penne pasta. The dish offers a flavorful, comforting meal with a subtle kick of heat from the hot sauce, ideal for a satisfying weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 3 tablespoons olive oil (divided)
- 4 tablespoons Cajun seasoning (divided)
Pasta and Vegetables
- 1 pound penne pasta (or medium pasta shells)
- 2 pints cherry tomatoes (20-24 ounces or 4 cups)
Dairy and Seasoning
- 10.4 ounces Garlic Herb Boursin Cheese (two 5.2 ounce packages)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce (adjust to your spice preference)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F to get it ready for roasting the chicken and vegetables.
- Prepare Chicken: Slice the chicken breasts in half lengthwise to create 4 pieces total. Coat the chicken with 1 tablespoon olive oil and 3 tablespoons Cajun seasoning. Arrange the seasoned chicken pieces on a baking sheet for roasting.
- Prepare Cheese & 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 olive oil and season with salt and black pepper to enhance the flavors.
- Roast: Place both the baking sheet with chicken and the casserole dish with cheese and tomatoes into the oven. Roast for 20-25 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and tomatoes are softened.
- Cook Pasta: While roasting, bring a large pot of water to a boil on the stovetop. Cook the penne pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Before draining, reserve 1 cup of pasta water and set aside for later use.
- Remove from Oven & Transfer: Take out the baking dish and chicken from the oven. Transfer the cooked chicken to a cutting board to dice for the final step.
- Combine & Serve: Add the cooked pasta, reserved pasta water, hot sauce, and the remaining 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning to the casserole dish with the Boursin cheese and roasted tomatoes. Stir well to combine all the ingredients into a creamy sauce. Dice the chicken and fold it into the pasta mixture. Serve immediately for best taste and texture.
Notes
- You can adjust the amount of hot sauce to suit your preferred spice level.
- Using fresh cherry tomatoes enhances the sweetness and freshness in this dish.
- Make sure to reserve pasta water to help create a creamy sauce when mixing with Boursin cheese.
- If you prefer a smoky flavor, add a touch of smoked paprika to the Cajun seasoning.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated gently to avoid drying out the chicken.
