Comforting and delicious, our Kefir Cajun Chicken Pasta 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 with Lifeway Farmer Cheese and fresh parsley. 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.
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 better 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, and even help support healthier blood sugar levels and improve levels of satiety due to how it triggers the release of GLP-1 since it is an excellent source of protein and high in bioavailable nutrition.
Lifeway Kefir contains a variety of nutrients that are vital for healthy bones and overall health: vitamin D3, K, calcium, and vitamin B12. Lifeway also offers our artisan-made Farmer Cheese, a creamy cultured cheese made with live and active cultures to support a healthy microbiome that is also an excellent source of complete protein.
Prep Time: 2 hours Servings: 8-10Ingredients
- For Marinade:
- 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
- 2 tbsp Lowfat Plain Kefir
- 1 tsp honey
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 3 tbsp freshly grated parmesan
- 1 tbsp garlic salt
- 1 tbsp dried parsley
- 1 tbsp dried basil
- 1/8 tsp dried oregano
- pinch of red pepper flakes
- Pepper to taste
- For everything else:
- 2 chicken breasts, butterflied
- 12 oz gluten free penne pasta
- 2 tbsp 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
- 1 tsp paprika
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 cup parmesan cheese
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 4 oz cream cheese
- 1/4 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup Farmer Cheese
Directions
- Cut chicken breasts in half. Salt and pepper both sides and put in a vacuum sealed bag, but don't seal it yet.
- Mix together all ingredients for the marinade and pour over the chicken breasts in the bag. Seal it and put in Sous Vide at 145 degrees for 2 hours.
- Once chicken has been cooked for 2 hours, start on cooking the pasta according to package.
- In the meantime, in a Cast Iron skillet, melt down butter and olive oil. Add onion and cook until translucent.
- Add in chopped bell pepper, minced garlic, cajun seasoning, basil, paprika, salt/pepper, and cayenne pepper. Cook until bell peppers are cooked down, about 3-4 minutes.
- Remove the vegetables, set aside. Turn the heat to high on the cast iron and remove the chicken from the sous vide and vacuum bags, don't dump out the marinade. Add the chicken breasts in the cast iron and seer on each side, about 1-2 minutes on each side.
- Once the breasts are browned on each side, pour in the marinade and coat chicken on either side. Once completely coated and the marinade has soaked up, remove the chicken and cut to desired cubes or strips.
- Add vegetables back in. Add in parmesan, heavy cream, cream cheese and chicken broth. Cook for 8 minutes, or until sauce thickens and cream cheese has fully melted. In the meantime, preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Add in the cooked pasta, and chicken.
- Top with farmer cheese chunks and throw in the oven for about 5 minutes, or until farmer cheese has warmed up.
- Top with freshly chopped parsley and enjoy!
