There’s a lot to be stressed about right now. It’s midterm season and the current political climate can be stressful for a lot of us. One thing I like to do to destress and calm myself down is to cook and bake. Two things that I don’t do as often as I should, but living in a dorm means I don’t have my own kitchen. However, when I do cook it’s usually something pretty good since I’m taking the time to use the communal kitchen. If you’re like me and like to be distracted by cooking, or just want to try out a new recipe, this recipe is for you. Be warned, I don’t always use exact measurements as the amount I’m cooking varies as to whether I’m meal prepping or just need a little portion for dinner, so tweak this recipe to fit your needs! I originally got this recipe from Natasha’s Kitchen, but I have altered it slightly to suite my needs. If you want to check out the original recipe here is the link to it: https://natashaskitchen.com/creamy-cajun-chicken-pasta/

You will need:

3-5 tablespoons of Cajun seasoning

Any kind of pasta (I prefer penne)

1-2 tablespoons butter

2-3 tomatoes 

As much garlic as you please (I usually use 3 cloves minimum)

16 fluid ounces of heavy whipping cream

1 package of ground chicken (or you can use chicken breast)

Parmesan cheese

Optional: Half of a white onion

Steps

1. Heat up your skillet and start cooking your chicken

2. Start boiling water in a separate pot

3. Dice the tomatoes (and the onion)

4. Dice the garlic into small pieces 

5. Once the chicken has finished cooking stir in 1 tablespoon of the Cajun seasoning and set chicken aside in a bowl

6. Put the pasta in the water and cook per instructions

7. In the skillet that had the chicken in it, melt the butter

8. Add in the garlic and cook for 1 minute

9. Add in the tomatoes and simmer until soft (also add in onion)

10. Add in the heavy whipping cream (if making a small batch use about half)

11. Once the sauce boils add in the rest of the Cajun seasoning (I usually add in 2 tablespoons for a small batch 3 or 4 for a big batch)

12. Add in as much parmesan cheese as you desire (I use 2 or 3 handfuls for a small batch and one small bag for a big batch)

13. Make sure the pasta is drained and then pour the sauce into the pan

14. Stir in the chicken

15. Enjoy!

This recipe is still great warmed up! I hope you try out this recipe the next time you’re feeling stressed or inspired to cook.