Sure, you could make a homemade Cajun seasoning blend from scratch—or you could save some time and make this Cajun chicken recipe with a store-bought blend. The grocery shortcut provides a whirlwind of flavor without the need to pull every last spice out of your cupboard.
Most store-bought Cajun seasonings will include one or more types of chiles (hot and/or sweet paprika, cayenne pepper, and other varieties of dried red pepper) as well as salt, black pepper, garlic powder, oregano, and onion powder. But the quantities vary by brand: Some are spicier or saltier than others, so taste yours (stir a little into Greek yogurt and actually give it a taste), then adjust the amount of salt in this recipe accordingly.
We like to use juicy, flavorful chicken thighs for this easy recipe, but you can easily swap in skinless, boneless chicken breasts if that’s what you have on hand. Sear the chicken in a heavy skillet (we like cast iron here), or if weather permits, take it out to the grill.
Cajun chicken pairs well with mashed potatoes or rice and sautéed veggies like zucchini or bell peppers. We’ve taken the dish in a more summery direction with a sweet-and-sour peach salsa garnish. If peak-season peaches aren’t readily available, feel free to swap in frozen diced peaches. Store leftover chicken in an airtight container and reheat for a quick lunch or a simple dinner.
Want more Louisiana classics? Check out our recipes for red beans and rice or chicken and sausage gumbo →
This recipe is part of the 2023 Farmers Market Challenge, where we’re celebrating peak-season produce with five-ingredient recipes. Head right this way for the full collection.
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What you’ll need
Citrus Juicer
$20 $15 At Amazon
Microplane
$18 At Amazon
Medium Bowl
$17 At Amazon
Tongs
$21 At Amazon
Large Skillet
$74 At Amazon
Recipe information
Total Time
25 minutes
Yield
4–6 servings
Ingredients
1½
2
1½
3
2
1
Preparation
Step 1
Toss 1½ lb. skinless, boneless chicken thighs (about 6) with 2 Tbsp. Cajun seasoning, 1 tsp. Diamond Crystal or ½ tsp. Morton kosher salt, and 1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil in a medium bowl to coat.
Step 2
Toss 2 ripe peaches, peeled, cut into ½" pieces, and remaining ½ tsp. Diamond Crystal or ¼ tsp. Morton kosher salt in a mesh sieve set inside another medium bowl to combine; set aside.
Step 3
Heat remaining 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil in a large skillet over medium. Cook chicken in a single layer, turning halfway through, until charred in spots and cooked through, 12–16 minutes. Transfer to a platter.
Step 4
Discard (or drink; it’s delicious!) any juice in bowl. Transfer peaches to bowl and add zest and juice of 1 lime and 1 cup cilantro leaves with tender stems and toss gently to combine. Taste peach salsa and season with more salt if needed. Spoon over chicken thighs.
Leave a Review
Reviews (13)
Back to TopWe found this WAY too salty! (And I am someone who loves salt!) Also, the acidity of the salsa seemed intense. Not the best recipe for us. I did enjoy the Cajun seasoning and encouraged my husband to make it again with reduced (or no) salt and he said there are too many other recipes to try! ;)
Anonymous
Marin County, CA
10/12/2023
Fantastic, full of flavor but not too hot spicy. I had no Cajun seasoning at home, but I found a very good recipe at <a href="https://www.gimmesomeoven.com/cajun-seasoning/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer ugc">https://www.gimmesomeoven.com/cajun-seasoning/</a> b All the ingredients were on my shelf. Had the chicken with white rice. Lovely.
Jo Ann
Charlottesville, VA
9/7/2023
When peaches are in season this combination of sweet and spicy is amazing.
Anonymous
9/2/2023
Want to try this but would prefer to use bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs. Would I need to make adjustments to the recipe?
Jim Bolero Drums
Wisconsin
8/20/2023
I wish I had used more than 2 peaches. They were a little too salty, but overall a good, quick weeknight recipe!
Anonymous
New York, NY
8/7/2023
Super easy and delicious. I followed the recipe exactly and no regrets. I threw some green beans and chopped kale in the pan while the chicken was resting to use up the rest of the flavours that were settled in there. Served with creamy mashed potatoes too. Zaynab’s recipes are topping my faves list these days!
Aileen
Halifax, NS
8/7/2023
It's interesting... the recipe calls for peeled peaches yet the photo shows peaches with their skins on. You could say inconsistencies like that are one of my pet peeves--and it's not the first time with BA. That said, what an easy and delicious dish. I used three peaches instead of two, and I wish I had used four. I also didn't see the point in draining the peaches. There was hardly any liquid left over, even though the salted peaches had been sitting for 20 mins or so. In sum: lightning fast prep (especially when your homemade cajun seasoning is already made), stunningly simple, completely delicious. I will absolutely be making this again and again.
H Kennedy
San Diego, CA
8/2/2023