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Get Dinner on the Table in Ten with Cajun Pasta

Are you tired of having to come up with a new dinner idea every night? Does the thought of cooking for your family leave you exhausted and uninspired? Bring some zesty flavor back into mealtime without extra effort tonight! This Cajun Pasta is packed with flavor and ready in just ten minutes. Your family will love it, plus your sanity will be saved when dinnertime rolls around–it’s a win-win situation. Keep reading to learn how to make this quick and tasty meal!


Do you ever get a little panicked when dinner time is approaching and you do not have anything ready to go? 

Are you scrambling to find something in the cupboard and come up empty leaving takeout as your best option? A

Does grabbing takeout lead to guilt about spending more money and maybe having a less nutritious meal?  

Even though I homeschool some of my boys, I still have days when the clock is coming up at 4:30 p.m. and I haven’t even thought about what to make for dinner.

While I might be fine with a big salad or whipping up some scrambled eggs, not everyone in the family likes those easy meals.

Make this delicious Cajun Pasta and have dinner on the table in ten minutes

Get Dinner on the Table in Ten with Cajun Pasta shop was compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #EverydayEffortless #CollectiveBias

Hearing about the new Barilla Pronto Pasta had my ears perking up a bit.

Promises of cooking in 10 minutes from start to finish with no need to drain out water had me eager to give it a test hop with my family. 

As Cajun pasta combines chicken and sausage chunks, I opted to buy a package of Tyson Grilled and Ready Chicken Strips from the freezer as well as pre-cooked Andouille sausage from the meat department. 

Rather than making a sauce from scratch, I used a package of pre-cut onions and pepper strips from the freezer and a jar of Barilla pasta sauce.

Making Cajun Pasta

Ingredients Gathered for Cajun Pasta

Before beginning, I gathered up my ingredients.

My large cast iron skillet was earmarked for the Barilla Pronto Pasta and my medium cast iron was used to sauté the onions and peppers as well as warm the sausage. 

My microwave was used for warming the Tyson Grilled and Ready Chicken Strips.

Cajun Pasta in Progress using 2 skillets on the stovetop

I have to say that this meal really impressed me.

I was able to get everything done in a snap which meant less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying my family members.

And, the Cajun pasta was very close to what I’ve had in some restaurants in the past. 

My eldest son appreciated that the Tyson Grilled and Ready Chicken Strips provided a great source of lean protein.

Final Stirring of Ingredients for Cajun Pasta

Even my husband agrees that the Barilla Pronto Pasta has a serious advantage with everything done in one pot. 

We’re definitely stocking up on this for future RV trips where cooking space is limited, we want to eat quickly, and no one wants to spend a long time on dish patrol. 

Rather than 30 minutes of cooking, I can be done in 10 minutes and almost everything was made in one pot.

AD This Cajun Pasta is #healthy and ready in 10 minutes! #EverydayEffortless #recipe ==> http://t.co/7isAzV9jkp pic.twitter.com/G4HN1N6ENu

— Laura O’Neill (@LauraOinAK) September 22, 2015

I think we might have solved the age-old problem of what’s for dinner, at least for one night per week.

I can feed my family of 6 quickly using Barilla Pronto Pasta and Tyson Grilled and Ready Chicken Strips

Who can argue with something easy and quick to prepare which keeps your budget in check and is packed with protein? 

Cajun Pasta is easy to make and packs in the protein
Yield: 6

Cajun Pasta

Prep Time: 1 minute
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 11 minutes

Cajun inspired pasta dish with chicken and sausage.

No Ratings

Ingredients

  • 1 box Barilla Pronto Pasta (12 ounces), spaghetti shape preferred
  • 1 jar Barilla Pasta Sauce
  • 1 bag of Tyson Grilled and Ready Chicken Strips from the freezer
  • 1 link of Andouille sausage from the refrigerated meat section
  • 1 bag sliced onions and peppers from freezer section
  • 1 tsp. Cayenne Pepper
  • 1 tsp. Creole Seasoning

Instructions

  1. Prepare Barilla Pronto Pasta per box instructions in a large skillet.
  2. In another skillet, saute the frozen onions and peppers in a bit of olive oil.
  3. Warm Tyson Grilled and Ready Chicken Strips in your microwave for about 6 minutes.
  4. Slice Andouille sausage link into small rounds. Add to the smaller skillet, tossing to warm.
  5. About 2 minutes before the pasta is finished, add spices and chicken to the smaller skillet tossing to evenly distribute everything.
  6. When timer goes off for the pasta, add in the jar of sauce and then add your meat and vegetable mixture. Toss to distribute.
  7. Serve with Parmesan cheese, if desired.

Notes

Make this gluten free quickly, using your favorite gluten free pasta. Barilla makes a few options. Cooking time may be altered slightly.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 143Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 25mgSodium: 398mgCarbohydrates: 13gFiber: 1gSugar: 3gProtein: 9g

More Dinner Ideas for Busy Days

Quick Dinner Solutions: Creamy Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo
Quick and Easy Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya

Check out more inspiration for #EverydayEffortless meals featuring Barilla Pronto Pasta and Tyson Grilled and Ready Chicken Strips.

Do you have a certain ‘go to’ meals for those busy nights when you’ve forgotten to plan dinner?

What are some ways you would pair Barilla Pronto Pasta and Tyson Grilled and Ready Chicken Strips? 

This Cajun Pasta is quick to make and will be done in approximately 10 minutes

11 Comments

    1. Phyliss,

      Thanks for coming back and letting me know you tried and loved the recipe! I definitely appreciate the feedback. This might be our dinner tonight as I have everything in the house ready to go for a second round.

  1. I love one pot pastas! I’ve used my cast-iron skillet to cook penne pasta in a mixture of homemade chicken stock, coconut milk, sausage, veggies, and spices. It’s such a time saver when you can skip the boiling water step, cause that can take awhile. Cajun pasta is one of my favorites. Looks yummy!

    1. I am totally jumping on board with the one pot pasta recipes, Elaina. This was my first time, but I love the ease of making it in the large cast iron with no waiting for the water to boil.

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