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    Home » Main Course » Cajun Butter Chicken

    Cajun Butter Chicken

    Published: Nov 23, 2022 by Anne Clark · This post may contain affiliate links · 4 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    baked meal on white plate
    baked chicken
    cajun butter chicken and potatoes

    Juicy chicken breasts and tender potatoes tossed in a spicy Cajun seasoned sauce and baked to perfection in one pan.  Sheet pan chicken and potatoes are an easy dinner that your family will love. Ready in under an hour!

    Welcome to My Kitchen Serenity!  I'm happy to share with you this super easy Cajun butter chicken recipe.  I especially love this for an easy weeknight meal.  Cooking the chicken and potatoes in one pan is a huge time saver.  Plus, this main dish offers you juicy chicken and creamy tender potatoes seasoned to perfection!

    Three cooked chicken breasts on wooden cutting board with potatoes in blue teal bowl and steamed broccoli in white bowl.

    Do you love jambalaya? Please try my Easy Cajun Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya

    Why You'll Love This

    Do you love foods that have a lot of flavor and a hint of heat?  Do you love foods that are very spicy? Either way, this Cajun baked chicken is for you because the heat level is completely adjustable.  

    Sheet pan dinners are a great choice when you want the ease and convenience of baking everything in one pan at the same time.  Plus, clean up is a breeze!

    Not a fan of spicy food?  The kids aren't fans of cayenne pepper? Or maybe indigestion or heartburn from spicy foods cause you to shy away from them.  No worries; we got options!  This recipe can be toned down considerably. 

    However, toned down doesn't mean flavorless!  Just omit the cayenne pepper, black pepper, and chili powder.  This recipe is very good without the spicy seasonings and can be very kid-friendly.  I want the whole family to enjoy this delicious meal!

    When made as is, the chicken and potatoes are not over-the-top spicy so don't let the word "spicy" make you run away!   Then again, I suppose what's mild to one person may be super spicy to another.  The beauty of it is, you have complete control over the level of heat! 

    Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are a wonderful choice for this recipe.  Boneless, skinless thighs would work great, too. 

    Potato Alternatives

    I used red potatoes because I had a giant bag of them.  Yukon or russet would work well, too.  Other alternatives include:  turnips, sweet potatoes, parsnips, carrots, and rutabagas (of course, rutabagas would need to be cut into much smaller pieces since they are firmer than potatoes).

    Seasoning Sauce

    We make a seasoning "sauce" to toss the chicken and potatoes in.  It's not quite a marinate per se, but you could use it as a marinade.  Since there's melted butter in the sauce, if you chose to use it as a marinade, the butter will make the sauce much thicker when it gets cold.  Actually, it's a good thing because the sauce will adhere to the chicken and potatoes nicely.

    The seasoning is the star of the recipe.  It begins with an olive oil and butter base.  Then we add a hint of lemon and Worcestershire (or Wooster as my family calls it) sauce.  Finally, we add all the wonderful dried seasonings to create a flavor explosion!

    Marinating Option

    Marinating is not necessary for this recipe since the chicken cooks up juicy and flavorful.  However, I understand that a lot of people (and I'm one of them) like to prep ahead of time.  Say, mix everything up in the morning, then bake it when they get home later.  This is a perfect recipe for that. 

    Keep in mind that refrigerating it all day will cause the butter to harden so the sauce will look, well, thick like butter!  But when it's time to bake it, all the sauce will beautifully melt all over the chicken and potatoes. 

    Cajun Seasoning

    What makes this recipe "Cajun" is the ingredients in the seasoning.  Most all Cajun seasonings contain at least the following:  cayenne pepper, garlic,  onion powder, paprika, salt, black pepper, and oregano. 

    Having said that, there are many different "variations" of Cajun seasoning.  Plus, there are just as many Cajuns who will argue with you about it LOL.  My maternal and paternal grandparents, and many generations before them, were born and raised in St. James Parish, Louisiana, so I know how it is 🙂

    Ingredients You'll Need

    ingredients on counter top.

    Chicken Breasts - you'll need 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts.

    Red Potatoes - no need to peel the potatoes; just slice them into wedges.

    Olive Oil - binds the flavors of the marinade and helps the seasonings stick to the meat and potatoes.

    Butter - without butter, it would not be butter chicken!

    Lemon Juice - the citrus acid helps to tenderize the chicken and adds flavor.

    Worcestershire Sauce - adds a tangy, savory flavor.

    Jarred Minced Garlic - or chop about 2 cloves of freshly peeled garlic.

    Cajun seasoning blend - homemade blend made of Cayenne Pepper, Smoked Paprika, Chili Powder, Onion Powder, Oregano, Salt, and Pepper.

    Ingredient Substitutions

    • Boneless, skinless chicken thighs instead of breasts. Add some sliced sausage to the sheet pan as well!
    • Yukon or russet potatoes instead of red potatoes.  Other alternatives include:  turnips, sweet potatoes, parsnips, carrots, or rutabagas. You'll want to use a veggie that will cook in about the same amount of time as the chicken.
    • Red wine vinegar or soy sauce instead of Worcestershire Sauce.
    • Store-bought Cajun seasoning mix instead of making your own.

    How to Make Cajun Butter Chicken

    I like to add potatoes to this recipe for an easy sheet pan meal!

    photo collage of recipe steps.

    Step 1 - Prepare the butter sauce small sauce pan over medium heat.  Bring to a boil then remove from heat. Let cool for 5-10 minutes.

    Step 2 - Place the chicken and potatoes in a large zip-lock bag or bowl. Carefully add the sauce to the chicken and potato mixture.  Toss to thoroughly coat the chicken and potatoes.

    Step 3 - Remove chicken and potatoes from the bag, or bowl, and place on a rimmed baking sheet.  Drizzle any remaining seasoning mixture over the chicken and potatoes.  Bake until the chicken is no longer pink and the potatoes are tender. 

    Step 4 - Serve Cajun Butter Chicken with your favorite sides.  

    Baked chicken breasts and potatoes on sheet pan.

    Side Dishes

    Serve with crusty French bread and a green side salad.  Steamed broccoli is also a great choice.  During grilling season, check out my Southern Grilled Corn on the Cob!

    Leftover Ideas

    • The leftover chicken is fabulous when shredded and served on top of a green salad.
    • Roll up chicken in a tortilla wrap and add your favorite items like lettuce, tomato, cheese, etc.

    Storing Leftovers

    Leftovers should be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

    Baked chicken and potatoes on white plate with steamed broccoli on the side.
    The flavorful potato wedges are creamy on the inside and crispy on the outside.

    More Cajun Recipes

    • Easy Red Beans and Rice with Sausage
    • Pastalaya
    • Easy Cajun Hoppin John
    • Cajun Shrimp Stew

    If you’d like some recipe inspiration delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for my email newsletter on my subscribe page.

    If you tried this recipe, please rate it and leave me a comment. I'd love to hear from you!

    baked meal on sheet pan

    Cajun Butter Chicken

    Juicy chicken breasts and tender potatoes tossed in a spicy Cajun seasoned sauce and baked to perfection in one pan.  Sheet pan chicken and potatoes are an easy dinner that your family will love.
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Pin For Later Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 40 minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 335kcal
    Author: Anne Clark

    Ingredients

    • 4 Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
    • 4 Red potatoes (medium)
    • ¼ cup Butter
    • 2 Tablespoons Lemon juice
    • 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
    • 1 Tablespoon Olive oil
    • 1 teaspoon Minced garlic
    • 1 teaspoon Smoked paprika
    • 1 teaspoon Oregano
    • 1 teaspoon Chili powder
    • 1 teaspoon Onion powder
    • 1 teaspoon Salt
    • ½ teaspoon Cayenne pepper (adjust to your heat preference) use more or less to suit your taste
    • ¼ teaspoon Black pepper

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 400F.  Wash the potatoes, then slice into strips (like I did) or quarter them.  If using a medium potato, slice in half.  Then slice each half into 3 or 4 strips.
    • Add the potatoes and chicken to a large ziplock bag or large bowl.
    • Prepare the sauce by melting the butter over low heat in a small sauce pan.  Add the olive oil, lemon Juice, Worcestershire sauce, minced garlic, and the rest of the spices/seasonings.  Stir to combine.  (Optional step, but recommended: Raise the heat to medium-high and bring "just to a boil.")  Remove from heat and let cool for about 5-10 minutes.
    • Carefully add the sauce to the chicken and potato mixture.  Toss to thoroughly coat the chicken and potatoes
    • Remove chicken and potatoes from the bag, or bowl, and place on a rimmed baking sheet.  Drizzle any remaining seasoning mixture over the chicken and potatoes.  Bake for 15 minutes. Toss or turn the potatoes to ensure even doneness.  Bake for another 5-10 minutes or until the chicken is no longer pink and the potatoes are tender.   The chicken should reach 165 degrees F before removing from the oven. Be careful not to overcook the chicken or it'll be dry.  Thicker breasts will require a little more time than thin ones and vice versa.

    Notes

    Marinating is not necessary for this recipe since the chicken cooks up juicy and flavorful.  However, I understand that a lot of people (and I'm one of them) like to prep ahead of time.  Say, mix everything up in the morning, then bake it when they get home later.  This is a perfect recipe for that. 
    Keep in mind that refrigerating it all day will cause the butter to harden so the sauce will look, well, thick like butter!  But when it's time to bake it, all the sauce will beautifully melt all over the chicken and potatoes.
    Leftovers should be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @mykitchenserenity or tag #mykitchenserenity on Instagram!!

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 335kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 74mg | Sodium: 859mg | Potassium: 1525mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 589IU | Vitamin C: 24mg | Calcium: 69mg | Iron: 3mg

    This recipe was originally published in 2020 and was updated in 2022.

    Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy to my readers. I'm not a nutritionist and I don't guarantee the accuracy of this data. The data may differ according to the brands I used versus the brands you use. To calculate the data yourself using your brands, try using an online nutrition calculator or app.

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    About Anne Clark

    Hi! I'm Anne, the founder and content creator at My Kitchen Serenity, a food blog focused on serving the needs of busy moms and dads who are looking for easy and delicious recipes for the family.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Shyneice

      July 04, 2021 at 11:00 pm

      5 stars
      Absolutely delicious . Will be making it again for sure.

      Reply
      • MyKitchenSerenity

        July 05, 2021 at 8:53 am

        Thank you for letting me know, Shyneice! I’m glad you liked it 🙂

        Reply
    2. Jay

      September 11, 2022 at 6:57 pm

      5 stars
      I always make this when I don't know what to cook for dinner! I always serve it with some fresh carrots & ranch or some broccoli.

      Reply
      • Anne Clark

        September 11, 2022 at 9:23 pm

        Thanks, Jay! I love those sides as well

        Reply

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    Hi. I’m Anne and I’m happy to share with you my easy, family-friendly recipes. I’ve been cooking for my family for 30 years, and what I’ve learned is that most busy families appreciate easy homemade meals. Now that the kids are grown, my passion is creating and sharing flavorful food for you and your family to enjoy as well. If you have any questions, feel free to email me at [email protected] 

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