Another Cajun Chicken Pasta

Ingredients
1 pound pasta, such as penne
3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into cubes
3 teaspoons cajun spice, such as Emeril’s Essence
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
2 red bell peppers, seeded and cut into thin slices
¹⁄₂ large red onion, cut into half moons
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 pints small tomatoes, quartered or halved
2 cups chicken broth
¹⁄₂ cup white wine
1 cup heavy cream
2 ounces cream cheese, cut into small pieces
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Parmesan cheese, optional

Instructions
1. Bring large pot of salted water to boil over high heat.  Cook pasta as directed on packaging. Drain well.

2. Sprinkle half of Cajun seasoning over chicken pieces and toss to coat.  Heat 1 tablespoon oil and 1 tablespoon butter in heavy skillet over high heat.  Add half chicken and cook, without stirring, until browned on one side.  Stir and continue cooking until cooked through.  Remove chicken to clean plate.  Repeat with remaining chicken. 

2. Add remaining olive oil and butter to skillet.  Once butter is melted, add bell pepper, onion, and garlic.  Sprinkle remaining Cajun seasoning over vegetables and cook over high heat until vegetables brown.  Add tomatoes and cook 2 minutes.  Remove vegetables to plate with chicken. 

3. With pan still over high heat, add wine and chicken broth.  Cook 3 to 5 minutes, stirring to deglaze the pan.  Reduce heat to medium-low and pour in cream.  Stir in cream cheese until melted.  Continue stirring until sauce begins  to thicken, about 5 to 10 minutes.  Season sauce with salt and pepper if necessary. 

4. Add chicken, vegetables, and pasta to sauce.  Stir well to combine.  Serve with Parmesan cheese if desired. 

Comments
I found this recipe on a cooking blog but the instructions were pretty poor.  Thankfully, the blogger had linked to her source, so I was able to use the original from Pioneer Woman.  This was a tasty dish although the sauce was reluctant to thicken.  The sauce did thicken up for leftovers which Art and Lance greatly enjoyed during the week.  Unlike my last attempt at Cajun Pasta, this was really delicious and not too spicy at all!