Comforting and delicious, our Kefir Cajun Chicken Pasta made with Lifeway reminds us that there’s nothing like a warming pasta dish. To make this recipe, we marinate chicken in a collection of sauces, spices, and creamy Lifeway Kefir. Lifeway Kefir makes a great marinade because of its lactic acid and probiotic cultures. They work to break down the proteins in the chicken, making it soft, tender, and easier to digest.
After marinating, we mix the chicken with vegetables and penne pasta, then top it a sauce made with our kefir and Lifeway Farmer Cheese. Rich with flavor and ideal in texture, our Kefir Cajun Chicken Pasta is a wholesome, hearty meal that is sure to please everyone at the dinner table.
Find our farmer cheese and kefir at a store near you or shop online here.
The Benefits of Cultured Dairy for Better Health:
Research continues to show the importance of eating healthy foods, including cultured dairy such as kefir, for optimal digestion and gut health, a strong immune system, and to support the microbiome. Fermented foods like kefir hold important value in this line of research due to the link between the gut-brain axis and overall health. Specifically, kefir has been shown to help diversify the microbiome, improve digestion, reduce inflammation, support healthier blood sugar levels, and improve satiety since the bioavailable protein it contains triggers the release of GLP-1.
Lifeway Kefir is packed with a variety of vital nutrients important for overall health, including bone and muscle health; these include vitamin D3, K, calcium, and vitamin B12. Along with our probiotic-rich kefir, Lifeway also offers artisan-made Farmer Cheese, a creamy, high-protein cheese made with live and active cultures to support healthy muscles and a healthy microbiome. Lifeway Farmer Cheese is easy to spread, free of gums and thickeners, and contains no added salt or sugar for optimal health benefits.
Prep Time: 2 hours Servings: 8-10Ingredients
Marinade Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup Organic Whole Milk Plain Kefir
- 1 tp. raw honey
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 3 tbsp. freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tbsp. garlic pepper
- 1/8 tsp. dried oregano
You Will Also Need:
- 2 chicken breasts
- 12 oz. penne pasta (we used gluten-free brown rice pasta)
- 2 tbsp. Lifeway Kefir Butter*
- 1 tbsp. olive oil
- 1 cup diced onion
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 3 tbsp minced garlic
- 2 tbsp. Cajun seasoning
- 1 tsp. dried basil or additional oregano
- 1 tsp paprika
- dash each of salt and pepper
- 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
Sauce Ingredients:
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup additional Organic Whole Milk Plain Lifeway Kefir
- 1/4 cup chicken broth or bone broth
- 1 1/4 cup Farmer Cheese
Topping Ingredients:
- 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
- 1/2 tsp. coarse ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup freshly chopped parsley
Directions
- Cut chicken breasts in half. Salt and pepper both sides and put in a large roasting pan.
- Mix together all ingredients for the marinade and pour over the chicken breasts in the pan. Bake at 375 degrees for 40 minutes or until done.
- Once chicken has been cooked, make the pasta according to package directions.
- As the pasta cooks, prep the rest of the ingredients. In a very large skillet, melt down kefir butter and olive oil. Add onion and cook until translucent. Add in chopped bell pepper, minced garlic, Cajun seasoning, basil or oregano, paprika, salt/pepper, and cayenne pepper. Cook until bell peppers are cooked down, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add the chicken into the pan with the vegetables, toss to coat, and cook for 1-2 minutes to combine the ingredients, then turn off the heat.
- In a separate skillet on the stove, make the sauce. Bring the heat to medium high heat, and add in the farmer cheese, remaining 1 cup whole milk plain kefir, chicken broth, and 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese. Whisk together, and cook for 8 minutes, stirring everything together as it cooks so it doesn't stick, then turn off the heat.
- Top the pasta with the chicken vegetable mixture, then add the sauce, fresh chopped parsley, red pepper flakes, black pepper, and enjoy!
