When Wente Vineyards asked me to pair a delicious recipe that paired well with one of their wines, my mind instantly went to pasta. I just love pasta and wine together.
Wente Vineyards has a lovely Chardonnay called Morning Fog Chardonnay. It goes perfectly with this Cajun Chicken Alfredo recipe.
This wine and dinner combo would be perfect for any dinner with family or friends! You can use the store locator to find Wente Vineyards Wines near you.
I chose Cajun style over the traditional Alfredo simply because I wanted a bit of spice. Sometimes, Alfredo can be bland, however, this recipe is far from bland. It is full of wonderful flavors.
Using the slow cooker for this recipe takes it from complicated to extremely easy. And I love easy recipes!
This recipe does not require you to thaw out the chicken breasts. I placed mine in the slow cooker frozen.
If you did choose to thaw your chicken out, apply the Cajun seasoning by placing the chicken breasts into a large bag along with the Cajun seasoning. Close the bag and shake to coat the chicken breasts with the Cajun Seasoning.
When serving this dish, make sure to also serve garlic bread. They go hand-in-hand.
A few tips for having a successful dinner party:
Don’t sweat the small stuff – It is easy to nit pick everything. Don’t worry about small things or things you can not control.
Simple is best – There is no need to go over the top on everything.
Have fun – Have a great time and conversations. Stay away for topics that may induce a debate.
Don’t forget to get an extra bottle of Wente Vineyards Wine to sip on while you work hard on preparing for your guests to arrive. *wink wink
Items for Slower Cooker Cajun Chicken Alfredo Recipe
Any Cajun Seasoning will work for this recipe. If you use a different brand than what I used, you may want to cut out the salt. The seasoning you use may be more salty than I have. You can always add salt to taste after cooking.
Louisiana Fish Fry Products Cajun Seasoning 8 Oz
Reynolds Kitchens Slow Cooker Liners (6 Count)Crock-Pot SCBAG Travel Bag for 7-Quart Slow Cookers, BlackThe Pioneer Woman 82780.12R Cowgirl Lace 12-Piece Dinnerware Set, Red
Slow Cooker Cajun Chicken Alfredo Recipe
A delicious meal perfect for dinner time or dinner guests!
Slow Cooker Cajun Chicken Alfredo Recipe
Prep
Cook
Total
Yield 4 people
Delicious Slow Cooker Cajun Chicken Alfredo. Packed with wonderful flavors!
Ingredients
- 4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts (if they are not frozen see post on how to prepare)
- 4 teaspoons of Cajun Seasoning
- 4 tablespoons of butter
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 3 green onions, chopped
- 2 cups of heavy cream
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 8 ounces of Pene Noodles
- Parmesan Cheese - Optional for topping
Instructions
- Place chicken breasts in the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Cover the chicken with the Cajun seasoning.
- Add the rest of the ingredients EXCEPT the Penne Noodles.
- Cook on high.
- After about 2.5 hours, check the chicken. If it is cooked, take the chicken out and cut into bite sized chunks and place back into the slow cooker.
- Add the Penne noodles at this time.
- Once the Penne noodles are fully cooked, it is time to serve!
- When serving, top with grated Parmesan cheese.
Notes
Important Tip: Yes, there is enough liquid in the recipe to cook the pasta. However, you will need to keep an eye on the pasta and stir it around. Once the pasta is done and the sauce is to the thickness you like, turn off the slow cooker or turn to "keep warm". You do not want to burn the noodles.
Courses Main Dish
More Slow Cooker Recipes
Robin says
Love the Wente Wine and the recipe idea on what goes together. Can’t wait to try this combo. Thank you for the tips. Time to go shop. Thank you Devon!
Carol See says
This was way, way too salty. We couldn’t even eat it. I would advise to use no salt and less Cajun seasoning.
devon says
I am sorry Carol. I understand that tastes are different. Perhaps your Cajun Seasoning had more salt in it than mine to cause that. Here is the seasoning I used.
Cassidy Handle says
Just made this pasta for dinner and it is the best pasta I have ever tasted. Better than any restaurant. It literally put a smile on my face. Thank you!
devon says
Cassidy,
I am SO glad you enjoyed the pasta!! Thank you for letting me know!
Laurie says
Is there enough liquid to cook 8oz of pasta in the crockpot?? Does broth or water need to be added? The cream and other juices doesn’t seem like enough liquid to me.
devon says
There is plenty of liquid in the recipe. Nothing else needs to be added. Honestly, it is really soupy until the end. Then it thickens up after the adding the noodles.
Sarah says
I made this tonight, there is plenty of liquid. I cooked egg noodles separately then added them at the end and put the lid back on to heat the entire thing through. I even added shrimp. I will say, it was too much liquid for my liking, I like my sauce thicker. Next time I will not throw the chicken in frozen. I suspect a lot of added liquid came from the chicken as it thawed while cooking. It was super good and I will for sure make it again!! Thanks for sharing this recipe.
Darryl says
Cooking the pasta in the sauce absorbs a good bit of the liquid.
Barbara Dehner says
Do you place the chicken back in the pot to cook with the penne? If so, doesn’t the chicken get dry?
devon says
Yes, I put the chicken back in. Sorry, I missed putting that in the instructions. I will correct that. The chicken doesn’t get dry.
Kaneshia says
Is the heavy cheese, cream cheese or alfredo sauce
devon says
It is Heavy Cream – I used heavy whipping cream. Not Cheese.
Kendra says
Hi! This looks amazing and I am making it for Christmas Eve dinner. My question is, I need to double it. In doing so, do I need to use two crockpots?
devon says
Hi Kendra! You might be able to use one crock pot, but I would be safe and use 2. Just make sure to keep an eye on it after putting in the noodles. You don’t want to over cook them. 🙂 Enjoy!
Alisa says
I want to make it for only two people, will it work if I cut the recipe in half? I feel like 4oz of noodles won’t be enough for 2 people, but if I cut everything else in half, except the noodles, there might not be enough liquid to cook them. Also, is it possible to cook the chicken on low?
devon says
Hello Alisa. I would think you would be find cutting the recipe in half. I have not done that myself but would think it would be fine. Or you can make a full batch and have leftovers. 🙂
You would be fine cooking on low, will just take longer to cook.
Angela says
Oh my gosh, it is even better left over! My sister made this when I went for a visit. No joke, I ate the leftovers for 3 additional days….. She did make a little extra sauce though, to wet it up a bit. Even without the extra, it was delicious!
Amber vachon says
Is it the same cook time for the chicken (2.5 hours) if the chicken is thawed?
devon says
You probably do not have to cook as long. Just keep an eye on it. 🙂
Jessica A says
My family is 6 ppl & my sisters love the chilis version of this pasta is it possible to double the recipe to have enough for everyone?
I just got a 7qt crockpot if that helps
-Thanks Jessica(:
devon says
Hi Jessica.
I “think” my crock pot is a 5 qt. You may be able to double it. When you start your recipe, start with a single batch of the ingredients and judge from that. Sorry, I don’t have a definite answer for you.
Lindsey says
Can you cook on low if you are leaving the house and need more time?
devon says
Hi Lindsey. You can cook on low. That is fine. I would wait to add the noodles until you are home to watch them though.
Lindsey says
Do you put the noodles in raw or cook them first before adding to crockpot?
devon says
Hi Lindsey! I put the noodles in raw. 🙂
Jennifer says
Hello! Typically, how long do you cook the pasta for after it’s added to the crockpot?
devon says
I think the pasta cooked about 20 or 30 minutes after adding it to the crock pot. I kept a close eye on the pasta so I could turn the crock pot to warm when it was done.
Joy says
Can this dish be frozen without the pasta in it then add the pasta when ready to use !!
devon says
I have not tried freezing it so I don’t know. If you try it, come back and let us know what you did and how it turned out. 🙂
April says
This is one amazing recipe. I made it tonight and love it! I do see how it is a little on the salty side BUT 1. My cajon seasoning is a cheap one so I will be getting the one you got next, 2. I don’t have garlic powder like I thought so I sort of used garlic salt…but it’s still amazing and I’ll for SURE be making it again especially since they boyfriend likes it also 😉 Can’t wait to make this for the family soon 🙂 🙂 🙂
devon says
April,
So glad you liked the recipe! Hope the family enjoys it too!! 🙂
Navi says
At what point do we add the cream ? Or is tht made separate ? Did I miss tht in the steps?
devon says
After the chicken gets covered with the Cajun seasoning, everything Except the noodles goes in the pot at the start of cooking.
Jennifer Cieslak says
Can I use shrimp, crabmeat, or both?
devon says
Yum! I bet that would be good in it. Go ahead and try it. Let me know how it turns out.
LeeAnn says
I made this recipe this past weekend and it was a huge success! It’s a well known fact that my first attempt at a new recipe usually does not turn out well, but this was amazing! I used thawed chicken thighs and it tasted like something I would have gotten at a restaurant! My husband loved it! I’m now looking at your other recipes! Thank you so much for sharing!!
devon says
Awesome LeeAnn! So glad it was a huge success!! Thanks for letting me know it did so well. Hope you find something else you like. 🙂
Courtney says
Do you happen to know if i can cook on low for a longer amount of time while i am at work?? Was going to start before i left and finish up after i get home but that will be a good 8 hrs.
devon says
I have not done it for that long. You can try it and just put in the noodles and chunk your chicken when you get home. I would make sure the slow cooker is on the low setting for sure.
Courtney says
Ok…thanks so much! I was going to try on low for maybe 5-6 hrs and just see. Thanks for responding so quickly.
devon says
You’re Welcome Courtney!
Heather says
How was it?? I’m doing the same thing today..
Mary Catherine says
Great dish!! Everyone loved it! I also added two cloves of minced garlic!
devon says
I am glad everyone loved it! Mmmmmmm the garlic does sound like a great addition!
Misty Watson says
I love this recipe! I only wish mine had a little more sauce to it so I could dip my garlic bread in it! Think I could add more cream and butter or even milk?
devon says
Glad you liked it Misty! You could try doing that. Also, if your noodles are done before the sauce thickens, you can do ahead and turn off the slow cooker and try that….
Michelle says
Hi Devon, I’m really excited to try this recipe but I’m hoping you can help me with a couple of questions first. Approximately what is the total weight of chicken you use? Chicken breasts vary quite a bit, and I may use chicken thighs since that’s what I have in the freezer. Also, I can’t locate that brand of Cajun seasoning locally (usually I have good luck). What might be another brand you’d consider close in heat/salt content? I have Tony Cacheres but know some consider it too salty. Thanks for your help, I know this is going to be a huge hit. What’s not to love? Crockpot, heat, pasta, yummy sauce…wish I had some now. 🙂
devon says
Hi Michelle!
On the seasoning, if you think it may be salty, omit the regular salt. If you think it is needed after it is done, you can always salt to taste.
I think the chicken breasts were about a pound together. They were larger chicken breasts. I used Best Choice frozen chicken breasts. They are in a bag if you look at a store like price chopper or a local store (not Walmart).
It really was good, may have to make it again real soon.
Debbi says
The crockpot is on and we should be able to cut up the chicken in a couple hours. Can’t wait to taste it!!
devon says
Awesome!
Liz says
This is on top of my favorite dishes. My family loved it so much. Thank u so much for the receipt!! Mine came out perfect except I had lots of noddles so I had to add cream. The chicken was so tender it fell apart. The best!!!
Katie says
Do you know how many servings are in this recipe?
devon says
Should be at least 4 good sized servings.
Linda says
Hi
I tried this recipe this past Sunday and it was fantastic! So good that it’s being made again tonight. Instead of cutting the chicken, I tried shredding it, and it turned out wonderfully. 13/10 in my opinion!
devon says
Hi Linda! That is awesome! I am glad you guys loved it!! Thank you!
Alexis says
Can we use a different kind of pasta instead of penne pasta
devon says
Yes you can Alexis.
Jenny says
Can i double the recipe and use a large crockpot?
devon says
You might be able to get away with doubling. You will know for sure when you put all the ingredients in at the start. Just remember you will be adding noodles later.
Lori Thompson says
OHMYGOSH! Made this dish tonight!! Was a huge success. I will tell you…I am not too good in the kitchen. Rarely do my new dishes turn out. This was absolutely delicious!! I can’t wait to try your other meals!!
devon says
Glad it was such a hit! Thank you!
Sha123 says
I’ve made this serval times now and everyone in the house loves it. I use more cream than advised because I don’t like my food too spicy. I also use fresh egg pasta and it tastes amazing! So glad I found this recipe 🙂
devon says
YUM! I bet those noodles are really good! Thanks for sharing!
Nora says
It says 4 servings do you know about the serving size? Or nutritional information?
devon says
Nora,
They are a good sized serving (didn’t measure exact size when making) and sorry I don’t have a way of calculating nutritional information.
Allison says
I used ground garlic instead of garlic powder and added some mushrooms. The only thing I did different was seared the chicken to give a little more crisp before I placed in the Crock-Pot. The taste was on the spot..My husband and son both had 2 helpings so I had no lunch for work today. Great recipe..I will be following.
devon says
Glad you guys enjoyed the recipe! Thanks!
dianne mackert says
can I add chopped garlic in place of garlic powder? Or along with the powder if a person really likes garlic
devon says
Sure you can! You can always customize it to your taste. 🙂
Brooke says
What if I use raw chicken?
devon says
You may use raw chicken. (I assume you mean thawed chicken) It may not take as much time to cook the chicken.
Brooke says
No, I mean chicken that isn’t cooked at all.
devon says
The chicken I used was not pre-cooked. Just frozen.
Amber Golden says
Hey..this will be my 4th time making this but I never knew if I should add more heavy cream with a 16oz box of noodles..I always went with your recipe..just thought I’d ask this time???? Its definitely a hit!!
devon says
I would add more cream. Sorry, I didn’t get back to you sooner. Hope it turned out delicious again!
Pamela says
For your recipe of 4 servings what size crockpot do you suggest? Would a 7 qrt suffice or does it have to be smaller to cool correctly?
devon says
You should be fine. I used my large crock pot. (not sure what size mine is)
Liz says
Hi. If i wanted to make without meat. Would it be possible?
devon says
I would think so. I have not made it without meat.
Cat says
Is this spicy? And if so, should I half the Cajun seasons? Making this for my family and there are 4 kids ages 10-7-4 & 18 months old. They don’t like spicy food.
devon says
Hi, Cat!
To be safe, I would cut down the Cajun seasoning. I don’t remember it being too bad, but everyone’s taste buds are different. Plus, it depends on the seasoning too. Your seasoning could be spicier than mine. So, yes, cut it in half. 🙂
Lyndsey says
can you tell me an alternate Cajun seasoning that may work. I love spicy so that’s not an issue but I live in a very small town and have not had luck finding this one. Thank you
devon says
Hi Lyndsey! I would assume any Cajun seasoning would work. You may want to cut out the salt in the recipe. I don’t know how salty the other seasoning would be. If anything, people can add salt when they eat the pasta.
Cece says
Hello i am a little confused. It says of the chicken is not frozen to put it in a bag, do i just add the cajun seasoning or all the seasoning?
devon says
I am sorry for that. It does read a little bit confusing, I will fix that. I would just do chicken and Cajun seasoning.
Danielle says
I made this pasta tonight for dinner and it was a huge hit, everybody loved it and we had absolutely no leftovers. I used thawed chicken so I seasoned the chicken with the Cajun seasoning and let sit for 30 minutes while I cut up the veggies. I added everything else minus the salt and cooked according to recipe. This pasta was sooo good, the flavor was wonderful. I think we will have this again this week, this meal will be in rotation in our home. Thanks for the recipe.
devon says
I am so glad you loved it!! I do think it may be time to make it again here too! Thanks for stopping by!
Krista Bruse says
I was introduced to this dish at a potluck at our school.. It has become a staple in our home!!! We love this dish!!!
devon says
Awesome! I am so happy to hear this!
Jillian says
Can you use chicken breasts that are not fully thawed?
devon says
Yes, just make sure the chicken is done before serving.
Stephanie says
I’m excited to try this recipe! I’m just afraid that 8 oz of noodles will not be enough for 4 servings.