🍗 Smoky Cajun Cream Chicken Tray Bake with Cheese
Serves: 4
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
Total: about 30 minutes
Ingredients
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts or 5–6 chicken thighs
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced
- 1 small onion, sliced
- 3–4 garlic cloves, finely minced
- 200 ml heavy/double cream
- 100 ml chicken stock
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 100–150 g grated mozzarella
- 50 g grated cheddar
- 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan, optional
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano or Italian herbs
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley, optional
- ½ teaspoon chili flakes, optional, for extra heat
Step-by-step
1. Preheat the oven
Heat your oven to 220°C / 425°F or 200°C fan.
Use a large ovenproof baking tray or casserole dish. You want enough space for the chicken and vegetables to sit in a mostly single layer.
2. Season the chicken
Pat the chicken dry with kitchen paper.
Place it in a bowl and add:
- Cajun seasoning
- smoked paprika
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- black pepper
- salt
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Rub everything thoroughly into the chicken so it’s completely coated.
Tip: If your Cajun seasoning is already quite salty, reduce or skip the additional salt.
3. Prepare the vegetables
Slice the red pepper and onion into fairly thin strips.
Add them to the baking tray with the remaining tablespoon of olive oil. Toss them together and spread them out.
Place the seasoned chicken pieces on top.
4. Start roasting
Put the tray into the hot oven and cook for approximately 10 minutes.
This gives the chicken and vegetables a head start and allows the Cajun seasoning to become slightly smoky and roasted.
5. Make the creamy Cajun sauce
While the chicken is cooking, mix together in a bowl:
- 200 ml cream
- 100 ml chicken stock
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- minced garlic
- oregano
- chili flakes, if using
Whisk until the tomato paste is completely incorporated.
The sauce should be smooth and fairly loose at this stage—it will thicken considerably in the oven.
6. Add the cream sauce
After the first 10 minutes, carefully remove the tray from the oven.
Pour the creamy Cajun sauce around and over the chicken.
Give the vegetables a gentle stir, but try to keep the chicken pieces exposed on top.
Return the tray to the oven.
7. Add the cheese
Cook for another 7–8 minutes.
Then remove the tray and sprinkle the mozzarella and cheddar evenly over the chicken and sauce.
If you’re using Parmesan, sprinkle that over the top as well.
8. Finish under high heat
Return the tray to the oven for another 3–5 minutes, or until:
- the cheese is completely melted
- the top is bubbling
- the edges are golden
- the chicken is cooked through
For chicken breast, the thickest part should reach 74°C / 165°F internally.
If you want a darker, more golden cheese topping, switch to the grill/broiler for the final 1–2 minutes. Watch it closely because the cheese can burn quickly.
9. Rest
Take the tray out and let it rest for 2–3 minutes.
Finish with chopped fresh parsley and, if you like, a little extra Cajun seasoning or black pepper.
🍽️ What to serve with it
The creamy Cajun sauce is excellent with:
- Steamed rice
- Garlic bread
- Crusty bread
- Mashed potatoes
- Roasted potatoes
- Pasta
- Corn on the cob
- A simple green salad
For a 30-minute complete dinner, I’d serve it with microwave/quick-cook rice and a simple salad.
🔥 Tips for the best result
Use chicken thighs for extra juiciness. Boneless, skinless thighs are more forgiving than chicken breast and work beautifully with the creamy sauce.
Don’t drown the chicken. Pour most of the sauce around the chicken and leave the tops exposed so the Cajun seasoning can roast and the cheese can brown.
Want it extra smoky? Add another ½ teaspoon of smoked paprika rather than adding lots of Cajun seasoning.
Want it spicy? Add ½–1 teaspoon chili flakes or a little cayenne pepper.
Want it extra cheesy? Use around 200 g total cheese and add Parmesan to the top.
Want more vegetables? Add sliced mushrooms, zucchini/courgette, spinach, or cherry tomatoes. Keep the tray reasonably spacious so everything roasts rather than steams.
Important: If your chicken breasts are very thick, butterfly them or pound them to an even thickness. This helps them cook within the 20-minute oven time.