Description
This Slow Cooker Cajun Chicken Alfredo is a rich, creamy, and comforting pasta dish loaded with juicy chicken, smoky sausage, Cajun spices, and tender pasta that cooks right in the sauce. A true set-it-and-forget-it weeknight win!
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound chicken breasts
1 pound smoked sausage, sliced into 1-inch pieces
3 cups heavy cream
4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
4 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons coarse Cajun seasoning
2 cloves garlic, smashed
1 pound uncooked penne pasta
1/2 cup hot water
8 oz freshly shredded Parmesan cheese (about 2 1/2 cups)
Kosher salt and black pepper
Garlic powder
Instructions
Pat chicken breasts dry and season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
Heat olive oil in a skillet over high heat and quickly sear chicken on both sides.
Add chicken, sausage, heavy cream, chicken broth, butter, garlic, Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper to the slow cooker.
Cook on LOW for 4 hours or HIGH for 2–3 hours, until chicken reaches 165°F.
Remove chicken, let cool slightly, then slice.
Stir hot water and uncooked penne pasta into the slow cooker. Cook on HIGH for about 30 minutes, until pasta is tender.
Stir in Parmesan cheese and return sliced chicken to the slow cooker. Taste and adjust seasoning.
Notes
Stir the pasta halfway through to help it cook evenly.
Add red pepper flakes for extra heat.
If sauce is too thick, add splashes of broth or cream to loosen it.
For a lighter dish, half-and-half may be substituted for heavy cream (texture will be slightly thinner).
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours (on LOW)
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American / Southern Fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 generous bowl
- Calories: ~860
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 1320mg
- Fat: 54g
- Saturated Fat: 30g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 42g
- Cholesterol: 245mg