Description
Cajun chicken with bell peppers brings zesty Southern flavors to your dinner table. Spicy seasonings and colorful peppers create a mouthwatering meal that promises a delightful culinary journey you’ll savor with every bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 4 small chicken breasts
- 6 ounces (170 grams) cream cheese, cold and sliced into 8 pieces
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
Vegetables:
- 2 small bell peppers (or mini sweet peppers), thinly sliced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
Cajun Seasoning:
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ¼ teaspoon oregano
- ¼ teaspoon thyme
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Craft a zesty Cajun spice blend by whisking together paprika, cayenne pepper, oregano, thyme, and salt in a compact mixing vessel until thoroughly integrated.
- Heat the kitchen oven to a precise 375°F, positioning the rack in the center position.
- Create a vibrant foundation in a casserole dish by spreading colorful bell pepper slices across the entire bottom surface, ensuring complete coverage.
- Carefully position chicken breasts atop the pepper layer, allowing peppers to nestle underneath and create a flavorful base.
- Liberally dust the chicken with the prepared Cajun seasoning mixture, tailoring the intensity to personal preference.
- Scatter freshly minced garlic across the chicken surfaces, distributing aromatic notes evenly.
- Crown each chicken breast with two delicate cream cheese slices, allowing them to slightly melt during cooking.
- Generously shower shredded cheddar cheese over the entire chicken landscape, creating a tantalizing cheesy blanket.
- Transfer the dish into the preheated oven and roast uncovered for approximately 25 minutes, monitoring until chicken reaches a safe internal temperature of 165°F.
- Optional: For a golden, crispy exterior, activate the broiler and expose the dish for an additional 2 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning.
- When serving, artfully redistribute the roasted bell peppers around and atop the chicken, creating an appetizing presentation that highlights the dish’s vibrant ingredients.
Notes
- Spice Customization: Adjust the Cajun seasoning intensity to match your heat tolerance, creating a personalized flavor profile that suits your palate.
- Cheese Melting Tip: Cold cream cheese helps maintain a creamy texture while preventing quick burning during the baking process.
- Doneness Check: Use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken reaches the safe internal temperature of 165°F, guaranteeing both flavor and food safety.
- Vegetable Companion: Bell peppers provide a sweet, slightly charred base that absorbs the delicious Cajun spices and chicken drippings.
- Make-Ahead Strategy: Prepare the Cajun seasoning and season the chicken in advance, allowing flavors to marinate for enhanced taste and convenience.
- Serving Suggestion: The cooked bell peppers underneath the chicken serve as a delicious, spice-infused side that complements the main protein perfectly.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 397
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 621 mg
- Fat: 23 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 108 mg