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This recipe is spicy, flavorful, and a little cheesy with hints of sweetness. It’s a perfect lazy dinner with minimal prep and a ton of nutrition. Made in one pan, high-protein, gluten-free, and keto-friendly.
Everyone knows that Cajun cuisine is known for its bold and spicy flavors. The mix of French, African, and Spanish flavors creates the ultimate burst of flavor.
My Cajun Chicken with Sweet Peppers is a perfect combination of ingredients. It pairs succulent, spiced chicken breasts with the natural sweetness of long, sweet peppers. All topped with a creamy cheese goodness.
It’s the perfect meal if you want to impress your friends and family but don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen. Or simply are busy!
One of the many things I love about this recipe is its nutritional composition. It only offers 9 grams of net carbs and a whopping 51 grams of protein. This makes it just a perfect recipe to keep your macros in check – and VERY satiating.
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Pin ItYou can enjoy this with almost any pairing since it’s so easy to divide and share. It can quickly become your go-to dinner, especially if you don’t like to do a ton of cooking.
Ingredients and Substitutes
Long sweet peppers , thinly sliced (2) – They add some sweetness and crunch to the dish. If you cannot find long sweet peppers, you can use red, yellow, or orange bell peppers.
Small chicken breasts (4) – Use small breasts so the dish is more flavorful. If the breasts are on the larger side, pound them out to thin them out a little. Those following a plant-based diet you can use firm tofu or tempeh.
Smoked paprika (1 tsp) – This adds some smokiness to the dish. But if you don’t have any, you can use chipotle powder.
Onion powder (1 tsp) – You can also use onion flakes.
Cayenne pepper (1/4 tsp) – This adds some nice heat to the dish without being too overpowering. If you want to reduce the spiciness, you can use chili powder or ground white pepper.
Oregano (1/2 tsp) – Don’t skip this ingredient since it adds a lot of flavor. Other good alternatives are dried thyme and marjoram.
Salt (¼ tsp)
Black pepper (1/8 tsp) –
Cloves garlic , minced (6) – I always recommend keeping a jar of minced garlic in olive oil to help you save time while cooking. If you don’t have minced garlic, you can use garlic flakes.
Cream cheese (1 cup) – This adds creaminess to the dish. You can use low-fat cream cheese or Greek yogurt.
Cheddar cheese (1/2 cup) – While I enjoy the sharpness of cheddar cheese, you can try using other types of cheeses like mozzarella, Monterey Jack, or even a blend of cheeses.
How to Make Cajun Chicken with Sweet Peppers
Step 1. Preheat the oven to 375F. Grab a baking dish and spray it with olive oil. Cover the baking dish with the slices of sweet peppers.
Step 2. Place the chicken breasts on top of the sliced peppers.
Step 3. In a small bowl, combine the smoked paprika, onion powder, cayenne pepper, oregano, salt, and black pepper.
Step 4. Mix the seasoning mix thoroughly.
Step 5. Coat the chicken breast with the spice mixture and the minced garlic. Make sure you cover both sides of the chicken and rub them into the chicken breasts. In that way, the chicken breasts will be more flavorful.
Step 6. Top each chicken breast with roughly 2 tablespoons of cream cheese. Just make sure you use all the cream cheese.
Step 7. Sprinkle the cheddar cheese on top of the chicken. Place it in the oven and bake it for 25 to 30 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked. Place it on broil for 2 minutes to make the cheese bubble and golden up. Place some of the pepper slices on top of the chicken breasts before serving.
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Pin ItWays to Modify the Recipe
- Make it leaner: If you are worried about the calories, you can use reduced-fat cream cheese and cheddar cheese. You can also add more vegetables, like zucchini, mushrooms, and eggplant.
- Add more heat: For those who love a bit of heat, try adding chopped jalapenos or a dash of hot sauce.
- Create a dairy-free version: If you cannot handle dairy, you can substitute the cream cheese with a dairy-free alternative and use nutritional yeast or plant-based cheese to keep it creamy and cheesy.
- Adding other flavors: You can also add other ingredients like garlic, tomatoes, spinach, corn, and sausage to add an extra punch of flavor.
Sides for Cajun Chicken with Sweet Peppers
Here are some of my favorite side dishes to have with my Cajun Chicken with Sweet Peppers.
- Rice: It helps soak up all the delicious juices from the chicken and peppers. You can consider using wild rice or brown rice for some extra texture (and nutrition).
- Cornbread: This adds a sweet and crumbly element that pairs perfectly with the spiciness of the chicken.
- Green beans: You can lightly sauté green beans to provide a crisp, fresh contrast to the rich flavors of the Cajun chicken. This is a great keto-friendly side if you are trying to keep the carb count low.
- Apple Sweet Potato Bake
- Air Fryer Asparagus
- Air Fryer Carrots
Storage and Leftovers
I know that if you have leftovers, you are going to want to keep them. Place them in an airtight container, and they should last for 3 to 4 days.
If you want to keep them for longer, you can place them in a freezer-safe container. Keep them in individual portions to avoid waste.
You should be able to keep it in the fridge for up to 2 months.
To have the leftovers, you can reheat them in the oven. Just make sure you don’t overdo it since it can result in dehydrated chicken.
Similar Recipes
Cajun Chicken with Sweet Peppers
3 Cals: 521 Protein: 51 Carbs: 11 Fat: 30
Ingredients
- 2 long sweet peppers thinly sliced
- 4 small chicken breasts
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1/2 tsp oregano
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp black pepper
- 6 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup cream cheese
- ½ cup cheddar cheese shredded
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 and spray a baking dish with oil.
- Cover the baking dish with sliced peppers and place chicken breasts on top of them.
- In a small bowl, combine smoked paprika, onion powder, cayenne pepper, oregano, salt and black pepper.
- Sprinkle the chicken with mixture of spices and minced garlic, do make sure you leave enough to cover both sides of the chicken. Rub the garlic and spices into them to increase the flavor.
- Top each chicken breast with around 2 tbsp of cream cheese. Make sure to use up all of the cream cheese.
- Sprinkle the baking dish with cheddar cheese.
- Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes until the chicken is cooked through. Broil for 2 minutes to golden up the cheese.
- Place some of the pepper slices on top of the chicken breasts before serving. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
