This Creamy Cajun Chicken and Sausage Pasta is a hearty and delicious one-pot meal that's perfect for feeding a crowd. Tender chicken, smoky sausage, and penne pasta are coated in a rich and creamy Cajun sauce and topped with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel and season it with 1 teaspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of pepper, and garlic powder.
Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. When the oil is hot, sear the chicken on both sides until it's browned, but not cooked entirely.
Add the seared chicken, sliced sausage, heavy cream, low-sodium chicken broth, unsalted butter, minced garlic, Cajun seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper to an 8-quart slow cooker.
Stir well to combine all the ingredients. Cover the slow cooker and cook on low heat for 4 hours.
About 30 minutes before the cooking time is up, remove the chicken from the slow cooker and let it cool slightly. Once cooled, slice the chicken into bite-sized pieces.
Add the dry pasta to the slow cooker and stir well to ensure all the pasta is coated with the sauce. Turn the slow cooker to high heat and cook for an additional 20-30 minutes or until the pasta is cooked al dente.
Once the pasta is cooked, add the freshly grated Parmesan cheese to the slow cooker and stir well to combine. Top the dish with the sliced chicken. Serve the hot with a garnish of freshly chopped parsley or scallions