Pasta and noodles · Cajun · 25 min
Spicy Cajun Macaroni with Ground Chicken, Veggies & Cheese
- 25 min
- 2–6 servings
- 666 kcal / serving
A weeknight Cajun pasta where ground chicken and veggies mingle with tomato sauce and a hit of spice. The mix stays cozy with macaroni and a shower of cheese for a comforting bite.
Free on iPhone · servings scaled, grocery list written for you.
Ingredients
- 1 stickcelery
- 1green bell pepper
- ½ lbground chicken
- ½ small bunchItalian (flat-leaf) parsley
- 5 ozmacaroni (elbow) pasta
- ¼ cupParmesan cheese, shredded
- ½ (10 oz) bagshredded carrots
- 1 (8 oz) cantomato sauce
- ½ mediumyellow onion
- green bell peppers
- yellow onions
From the pantry: Cajun seasoning, extra virgin olive oil, salt
Cookware
can opener · chef's knife · colander · cutting board · measuring cups · measuring spoons · medium saucepan · mixing bowls · stirring spoon
Kitchen help: cups to grams · tablespoons to cups · oven temperatures · butter conversions · what each cooking tool is for · ingredient substitutes
Shopping list by aisle
Produce
- 1 stickcelery
- 1green bell pepper
- ½ small bunchItalian (flat-leaf) parsley
- ½ (10 oz) bagshredded carrots
- ½ mediumyellow onion
- green bell peppers
- yellow onions
Meat & seafood
- ½ lbground chicken
Dairy, eggs & chilled
- ¼ cupParmesan cheese, shredded
Pantry & dry goods
- 5 ozmacaroni (elbow) pasta
- 1 (8 oz) cantomato sauce
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Ingredients for 2, 4 and 6 servings
| Ingredient | 2 servings | 4 servings | 6 servings |
|---|---|---|---|
| celery | 1 stick | 2 sticks | 3 sticks |
| green bell pepper | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| ground chicken | ½ lb | 1 lb | 1 ½ lb |
| Italian (flat-leaf) parsley | ½ small bunch | 1 small bunch | 1 small bunch |
| macaroni (elbow) pasta | 5 oz | 10 oz | 15 oz |
| Parmesan cheese, shredded | ¼ cup | ½ cup | ¾ cup |
| shredded carrots | ½ (10 oz) bag | 1 (10 oz) bag | 1 ½ (10 oz) bags |
| tomato sauce | 1 (8 oz) can | 2 (8 oz) cans | 3 (8 oz) cans |
| yellow onion | ½ medium | 1 medium | 1 ½ medium |
Quantities in US units. Any other household size: MealPot scales the recipe and the grocery list for you.
Directions
- Rinse the produce and pat it dry, then dice the bell peppers, celery, onion, and carrots.
- Heat a medium saucepan over medium-high and add a small amount of oil to coat the bottom.
- Add the vegetables and ground chicken to the pan, season with Cajun seasoning and salt, and cook until the meat breaks up and browns.
- Pour in water, tomato sauce, and the macaroni; stir to combine, cover, and bring to a boil.
- Once boiling, lower the heat to medium-low and simmer, covered, until the pasta is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed (about 8–10 minutes).
- Meanwhile, strip parsley leaves from the stems, discard the stems, and finely mince the leaves.
- When the pasta is ready, stir in the parsley and remove from heat; divide among bowls and top with Parmesan before serving.
Two tips
- Chop the vegetables and parsley ahead of time and store them in a covered container for quick assembly.
- Leftover portions reheat well; add a splash of water or tomato sauce if they look dry and sprinkle with extra Parmesan if desired.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 666 kcal
- Protein
- 45 g
- Carbs
- 73 g
- Fat
- 23 g
- Fiber
- 8 g
- Sodium
- 2346 mg
Estimates from the recipe's published nutrition data; they change with the version you pick above.
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Ingredient quantities, timing and nutrition follow the original Mealime recipe ↗ (captured 2026-09-12). The photo is MealPot's AI-rendered illustration of the finished dish; the description, directions, aisle list and serving table are MealPot's.