Dairy-free, Grain-free Cajun Chicken Pasta

Stone Chargers (similar) | Pink Napkins | Low Bowls | Candlesticks | Taper Candles | Dining Table

This was the first meal I ever made for Julia. I made this for her on our first date, more than 15 years ago. She has dietary restrictions now that prevent her from eating gluten, dairy and grains, but when she requested it again this year my mind immediately went to figuring out how to take that dish filled with dairy and wheat and turn it to something she could not only have, but would love.

Fluted Taper Candles | Candlesticks

Spoiler, we figured it out. And really the key is knowing your products. None of the products in this post are sponsored, but the reason I say using the right products matters is because not all vegan cheese behaves the same. To bring the creaminess to this sauce, we use Miyokos brand Italian-style mozzarella which melts into sauces beautifully.

I'm also a big fan of Banza pasta noodles. Very high in protein, and they tend to hold together a lot better than other grain-free pastas. And with such a flavorful sauce, they taste just like a classic pasta noodle.

Serving Bowl (similar)

Something that I'm better at now than I was in college is using fresh herbs. The fresh basil, added right at the end of cooking for maximum flavor, not only took this dish where it needed to be, but far beyond that initial version I made all those years ago. Truly an improvement over the original.

Cutting Board | Knife

The vegetables I use for this are a play on the classic "Holy Trinity" of southern cooking, which is celery, peppers, and onions. We use leeks in place of onions, roasted red peppers instead of fresh, and a small amount of celery seed to get that flavor with making the texture stringy.

All Clad Pan

I first learned to make cajun chicken pasta while living in Louisiana as a young, 20 year old kid. I fell in love with the mix of flavors and, even though much of it is not friendly to dairy/gluten/grain intolerances, I've had a fun time coming up with dishes that bring a lot of that flavor without making our family sick.

Kitchen Sources

So what's your dish? That dish you remember making for that special someone? Do you still have it the same way you always have, or are there some changes you've made over the years? I'd love to hear about it and, if you give this one a try, would love to know how you liked it. Truly, the flavor is out of this world.

Dairy-free, Grain-free Cajun Chicken Pasta

Recipe by Chris Loves Julia

0.0 from 0 votes

Course: Chris Cooks, Recipes, Valentine's Day

Servings

Prep timeminutes

Cooking timeminutes

Calorieskcal

Ingredients

• 2 strips bacon

• 3 chicken breasts, medium

• 1 handful basil, fresh

• 5 cloves garlic

• 2 leeks

• 2 cups mushrooms

• 4 sun-dried tomatoes

• 2 cups chicken stock, unsalted

• 1 wheel Miyokos mozzerella

• 1 cup roasted red peppers, roughly chopped

• celery seed

• cajun seasoning

• olive oil

• 4 servings Banza pasta (I'm using Gemelli)

• salt and pepper (to taste)