This slow cooker Cajun chicken pasta is a creamy, comforting dinner packed with bold flavor and easy prep. Tender chicken, smoky sausage, peppers, and pasta cook together in a rich Cajun-seasoned sauce for a meal that tastes like it took hours when the slow cooker does most of the work.
If you love easy crockpot dinners, this slow cooker Cajun chicken pasta is one of those recipes that practically cooks itself.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
Crowd-pleaser: Who doesn’t love a cozy pasta dinner? This slow cooker Cajun chicken pasta is rich, creamy, and comforting — the kind of meal everyone goes back for seconds.
Simple ingredients: Made with pantry staples and easy-to-find ingredients, this recipe delivers restaurant-style flavor without any complicated steps. Just add everything to the slow cooker and let it do the work.
Big flavor: Tender chicken, smoky sausage, Cajun spices, and perfectly cooked pasta come together in a creamy sauce that’s bold, hearty, and completely irresistible.
If you like pasta dinners, be sure to check out my skillet lasagna as an easy weeknight dinner option.
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🛒 Ingredients
Simple ingredients come together to make the most flavorful slow cooker Cajun chicken pasta.
- Chicken breasts – I used boneless, skinless chicken breasts, but boneless skinless chicken thighs work just as well if you prefer darker meat.
- Heavy cream + butter – These rich ingredients create the creamy Alfredo-style sauce. This is comfort food, friends — we’re not counting calories tonight! Half-and-half can be used instead of heavy cream, but the sauce will be slightly thinner and less rich.
- Chicken broth – Adds flavor and helps loosen the sauce as everything cooks together.
- Cajun seasoning, paprika & garlic – Cajun seasoning is typically a blend of cayenne, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, and oregano. Each brand varies slightly, but they all bring that signature bold Cajun flavor.
- Frozen peppers and onions – A great shortcut ingredient. You can absolutely use fresh chopped peppers and onions, but the frozen mix saves prep time and dishes.
- Kielbasa sausage – Found in the refrigerated meat section and usually shaped like a “U.” It’s sometimes labeled Polish sausage, and either works perfectly here. You can also swap in andouille sausage if you want more heat and traditional Cajun flavor.
- Penne pasta – The ridges and tube shape hold onto the creamy sauce and pair well with the sausage slices. Penne is my favorite, but cavatappi or farfalle (bow-tie pasta) work well too.
- Parmesan cheese – Freshly shredded melts the smoothest and gives the sauce the best texture.
See recipe card for quantities.
If you love bold Cajun flavors be sure to check out my dirty rice with sausage recipe, too!
🥣 How to Make Slow Cooker Cajun Chicken Pasta
- Step 1: Add ingredients except pasta. This is a great dump and go slow cooker recipe! Everything goes in including the chicken, sliced kielbasa and veggies.
Cover and cook on high for 2 hours or low for 4 hours.
Remove the chicken, slice and set aside.
- Step 2: Cook pasta. Add the pasta, stir and cover. Cook for 30 minutes.
- Step 3: Finish. Return chicken to the slow cooker and stir in Parmesan cheese until melted and creamy.
- Serve warm.
Tip: If your slow cooker runs hot, check pasta at 20 minutes so it doesn’t overcook.
Farm Girl Tip
Feed a crew: Double the sausage and peppers to stretch this dish for hungry farm crews or big family suppers.
🍽 Serving Suggestions
Simple sides pair well with this dish
- Garlic bread
- Peas and carrots
- Roasted broccoli
- Simple garden salad
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Make Ahead Tip
To make this ahead of time, you can cook the chicken and sauce, refrigerate it, and add freshly cooked pasta when ready to serve. This keeps the pasta from absorbing too much sauce.
I don't recommend freezing cream-based pasta dishes because the sauce can separate after thawing. This recipe is best enjoyed fresh or refrigerated for a few days.
Cajun chicken pasta has a creamy sauce with bold spices like paprika, garlic, and cayenne. The smoky sausage adds richness while the pasta soaks up the flavorful sauce. It’s similar to a creamy Alfredo pasta but with a warm Cajun kick.
Variations
- Make it spicier – Add ¼–½ teaspoon cayenne pepper or a few dashes of hot sauce for extra heat.
- Add shrimp – Stir in raw peeled shrimp during the last 10 minutes of cooking until pink and cooked through.
- Add veggies – Mushrooms, spinach, or diced tomatoes are all delicious additions. Stir quick-cooking vegetables in when you add the pasta.
- Make it cheesy – Swap part of the Parmesan for shredded pepper jack or cheddar for a richer, cheesier sauce.
For another cozy dinner idea, you'd enjoy my Swedish Meatball Casserole.
Storage + Reheating
Refrigerate leftovers up to 3 days.
To reheat:
Best method (stovetop): Place leftovers in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Add a splash of milk, cream, or chicken broth and stir gently until warmed through. This keeps the sauce creamy instead of thick or dry.
Microwave method: Add a tablespoon or two of liquid, cover loosely, and heat in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until hot.
Tip: The pasta will absorb sauce as it sits, so don’t skip adding a little liquid when reheating.
Slow Cooker Cajun Chicken Pasta FAQs
Yes. For this recipe, the uncooked pasta is added near the end of cooking so it softens without becoming mushy. Stir it in after the chicken cooks and let it simmer about 30 minutes until tender.
Absolutely. Use a mild Cajun seasoning and swap the sausage for smoked kielbasa or another mild variety. You can also reduce the Cajun seasoning slightly and add more at the end if needed.
Yes! Boneless skinless chicken thighs work great and stay extra tender in the slow cooker. They’re a great swap if you prefer darker meat.
You can. If you prefer firmer pasta or want more control over texture, cook it on the stovetop and stir it into the sauce right before serving.
More Easy Slow Cooker Dinners
Looking for other easy crockpot recipes? Try these:
Recipe
Slow Cooker Cajun Chicken & Sausage Pasta
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Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 14 ounce can chicken broth
- 1 Tablespoon Cajun seasoning
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 3 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 cup frozen peppers and onions
- 14 ounces kielbasa sausage sliced into rounds
- 1 pound penne pasta
- 1 ½ cups shredded Parmesan cheese
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Add 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, 2 cups heavy cream, 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter and 1 14 ounce can chicken broth to your slow cooker.1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, 2 cups heavy cream, 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter, 1 14 ounce can chicken broth
- Sprinkle 1 Tablespoon Cajun seasoning and 1 teaspoon paprika over the top.1 Tablespoon Cajun seasoning, 1 teaspoon paprika
- Add 3 teaspoons minced garlic1 cup frozen peppers and onions.3 teaspoons minced garlic, 1 cup frozen peppers and onions
- Add 14 ounces kielbasa sausage, sliced.14 ounces kielbasa sausage
- Cover and cook on high for 2 hours or low for 4 hours.Remove the chicken with tongs. Cut into slices and set aside.
- Add 1 pound penne pasta to the slow cooker, stir and cover.Let the pasta cook for 30 minutes until tender.1 pound penne pasta, 1 ½ cups shredded Parmesan cheese
- Add the chicken back into the slow cooker and stir to combine. Stir in 1 ½ cups shredded Parmesan cheese.Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve and enjoy.
Notes
- Use boneless skinless chicken thighs.
- Use andouille instead of kielbasa
- Use any short pasta
- Change out Parmesan for cheddar cheese.
Nutrition
This Farm Girl Cooks is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. Calories and other nutritional values vary depending on which brands were used.
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