This Cajun chicken is boneless chicken breasts coated in a homemade spice blend, then baked to tender and juicy perfection. A super easy dinner option that can be paired with a variety of side dishes for a full meal.
When I’m looking for a way to jazz up plain old chicken breasts, I turn to chicken Florentine, cornflake chicken or this zesty Cajun style chicken. All it takes is 5 minutes of prep time for a fabulous dinner!
You can never go wrong with baked chicken because it requires minimal work and can be infused with so many different flavors. This Cajun chicken recipe is full of bold flavors and is great for the whole family!
How do you make Cajun chicken?
This recipe starts with a spice blend that consists of Cajun seasoning, brown sugar and salt. Brush the chicken breasts with melted butter, then sprinkle the spice mix onto both sides of the chicken. Place the chicken in a pan, then bake until the chicken is browned and cooked through. Add a sprinkle of fresh parsley, then serve and enjoy.
Tips for the perfect Cajun chicken
- Choose chicken breasts that are approximately the same size so that they cook at the same rate.
- Avoid using chicken breasts that are overly thick, as they will take a lot longer to cook through and will be more prone to drying out.
- Olive oil may be substituted for the butter.
- This baking technique also works well with boneless, skinless chicken thighs.
- You can add some vegetables to the pan to cook alongside the chicken. Some of our favorites include carrots, broccoli, cauliflower and zucchini.
How to make Cajun seasoning
I like to use my own homemade Cajun seasoning for this recipe, which is a blend of paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, thyme and oregano. You can find my Cajun spice recipe here. You can also use store bought seasoning if you’re short on time with great results. My homemade seasoning contains salt, so you won’t need to add a lot of salt to the chicken before you cook it. Some store bought seasonings do not contain salt, so just make sure you check the label so you’ll have an idea as to how much salt to add to your chicken before you bake it.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO BAKE CHICKEN BREASTS?
This recipe utilizes a high heat cooking method. Cooking the chicken at a higher heat means it will cook quicker and be less likely to dry out. A standard boneless chicken breast around 4 ounces in size will bake for 18-20 minutes at 425 degrees F.
HOW DO YOU KEEP CHICKEN BREAST JUICY?
The best way to keep your chicken from drying out is to add a little fat to it (melted butter in this case), and cook it at high heat. It’s also important not to overcook your chicken. Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before you slice it, this will allow for the juices to redistribute into the meat.
HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN CAJUN CHICKEN IS DONE?
You can tell when your chicken is done by either cutting into it, or using a meat thermometer. If you slice into the thickest part of the chicken breast, there should be no pink remaining and the juices should be clear. The most accurate way to tell if your chicken is done is to use a thermometer. Insert a probe thermometer into the thickest part of the breast. The temperature should be at least 165 degrees F to be considered safe to eat.
This Cajun chicken is a great way to liven up dinner time! Add some mashed potatoes and a green vegetable, then watch the rave reviews come in.
More chicken recipes you’ll like
- Greek Chicken and Potatoes
- Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore
- Baked Chicken Wings
- Grilled Chicken Thighs
- Slow Cooker Chicken Breast
Cajun Chicken Video
Cajun Chicken
Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts 4-5 ounces each
- 3 tablespoons butter melted
- 1 1/2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning homemade or store bought
- 1 1/2 teaspoons brown sugar
- kosher salt to taste
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
- cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Coat a baking dish with cooking spray.
- Brush the butter all over both sides of the chicken.
- Place the Cajun seasoning, brown sugar and salt in a small bowl, and stir to combine. Check to see if your Cajun spice contains salt. If your seasoning does not contain salt, use 1 teaspoon of salt. If your seasoning does contain salt, just add 1/4 teaspoon more of salt.
- Rub the spice mixture all over both sides of the chicken breasts.
- Bake the chicken for 18-20 minutes or until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of a chicken breast registers at least 165 degrees F.
- Sprinkle with parsley. Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes, then slice and serve.
Zoey says
Hi. Thanks for sharing this recipe. Can I cook this in the air fryer and does anybody know the temperature and the duration of cook time, please?
Sara says
I haven’t tested this in the air fryer but my guess would be 360 degrees F for 18 minutes!
Janetta says
Do you bake it covered or uncovered?
Sara says
Uncovered!
Melissa says
I just tried this recipe and it was amazing! Super easy and quick to make. The chicken was juicy and flavorful. Thank you for sharing this recipe. I will definitely be making this again!
Sue says
I added broccoli to the pan the last 15 minutes and served it over rice. Delicious!
Neneng says
Can i make this with whole chicken? Do i need to brine the whole chicken?
Sara says
You can but the cook time will change if you’re doing a whole chicken! I prefer brined chicken but it’s not mandatory, here’s my chicken brine recipe if you’d like to try it: https://www.dinneratthezoo.com/chicken-brine-recipe/
Cindy says
This chicken is packed full of flavor! I served it over creamed corn and is was so yummy!
Savannah says
How would you adjust the time for bone-in chicken breasts?
Sara says
Add another 15-20 minutes depending on the size of the breasts!
Priscilla says
Can i make this with chicken thighs.
Sara says
Yes that works!
Sandra says
Looks like we have a new dinner favorite!
wilhelmina says
This has just enough kick without being too spicy, absolutely perfect! The leftovers were great on a salad the next day too!
Suzy says
I love how easy and flavorful this chicken is! The perfect amount of spice!
Kristyn says
I sure love cajun flavors! They are so bold & make everything so tasty! This will be a perfect dinner recipe this week!!
Toni says
This will surely be a big hit for dinner at my house!
Haley D Williams says
This sounds amazing! I love a good cajun dish!
katerina says
I am loving this Cajun Chicken!! Looks incredibly delicious!
Erin says
This Cajun chicken is seriously making me hungry!
Catalina says
Love how easy is this chicken to make! Must try it!
Dorothy Reinhold says
This will spice up our dinner! I am excited to make my own Cajun seasoning blend.
Beth Pierce says
I love Cajun chicken! Can’t wait to make this for the family.
Joshua says
Hi, I’d like to see the recipe for your spice, but where it says I can see it, it appears the hyperlink doesn’t exist. Unless I’m totally missing something. Help, please!
Sara says
Thanks for catching that I fixed it!