Flavorful Cajun Chicken with Sweet Bell Peppers

Introduction

Few dishes can match the bold flavors and vibrant colors of Cajun cuisine. This Flavorful Cajun Chicken with Sweet Bell Peppers is a testament to why these dishes are universal crowd pleasers—smoky, spicy, and just a touch sweet from the bell peppers. Not only is this recipe easy to prepare, but it also hits all the right notes for weeknight dinners or casual entertaining. The secret is in the balance: robust Cajun spices paired with juicy, tender chicken and crisp, sweet peppers that bring freshness to every bite.

Flavorful Cajun Chicken: A Satisfying Meal Everyone Will Love

What sets this recipe apart is its layered flavor profile—think a punchy homemade Cajun seasoning, succulent chicken, and colorful bell peppers sautéed to perfection. In just one skillet, you can achieve a meal that’s hearty, packed with nutrients, and visually stunning. The sweet bell peppers tame the gentle heat of the spice, ensuring each bite is both satisfying and approachable, making it a perfect addition to your regular meal rotation.

Building the Perfect Cajun Spice Blend

The core of this dish lies in the homemade Cajun seasoning. By making your blend, you control the heat and flavor intensity, so the dish is never too overpowering. Smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, and oregano—these pantry staples come together quickly for a seasoning you’ll want to revisit often. Coat your chicken generously, then sear for maximum flavor and caramelization.

Assembling and Cooking Your Cajun Chicken Skillet

Start by browning the chicken to lock in juiciness and flavor. Once that’s done, sauté sweet bell peppers in the same pan to soak up every bit of Cajun goodness. The peppers soften, taking on some of the spice while maintaining their signature sweetness. Finish by bringing everything back together so the chicken and peppers can share their flavors, and serve hot over rice, pasta, or roasted potatoes.

Serving Suggestions for Maximum Enjoyment

For a classic presentation, plate your Cajun chicken and sweet bell peppers over a steaming bed of rice, quinoa, or cauliflower rice for a lighter option. Garnish with fresh parsley or cilantro for a pop of color and freshness. A crisp salad or a slice of warm crusty bread make perfect sides, allowing you to soak up every bit of the flavorful sauce.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe yields about 4 servings. Each serving provides approximately 320 calories, 32g protein, 10g fat, and 18g net carbs—making it both a protein-rich and veggie-forward main course.

Flavorful Cajun Chicken with Sweet Bell Peppers (Recap)

With its zesty Cajun kick, juicy chicken, and sweet, rainbow-hued peppers, this one-pan dish delivers unbeatable flavor and weeknight convenience. It’s always a crowd pleaser, ideal for meal prep, busy evenings, or a splashy potluck main.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically generate an organized shopping list with all ingredients sorted by store section—perfect for efficient grocery trips and meal planning.

Instructions

1. In a small bowl, mix together smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, cayenne, salt, and black pepper to create your Cajun seasoning.
2. Pat chicken strips dry and toss evenly with half the Cajun spice blend.
3. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken strips and sear, turning once, until golden and cooked through (about 5–7 minutes total). Remove and set aside.
4. Add remaining olive oil to the pan, then sauté the onions and bell peppers with the rest of the Cajun seasoning. Cook for 4–5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until peppers begin to soften but are still slightly crisp.
5. Return chicken to skillet, toss with peppers, and squeeze in lemon juice. Cook for an additional minute, just to combine flavors and heat through.
6. Garnish with chopped parsley or cilantro and serve over your base of choice.

Weekly Meal Planning

This easy skillet meal adapts perfectly to weekly meal planning and prep. Save and schedule this recipe to plan which nights to make it and generate a smart shopping list that consolidates ingredients across all your meals for the week.

Planning Benefits:

– Automatically calculates the total amount of chicken, peppers, and spices for your weekly recipes
– Organizes your shopping list by grocery store section for less backtracking and more efficient trips
– Prevents buying duplicates or missing key ingredients
– Makes batch prepping healthy, flavorful dinners smooth and stress-free

Pro tip: When scheduling meals like this alongside other recipes, add them in CookifyAI to see overlapping ingredients and further minimize waste, making weeknight cooking budget friendly and organized.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes