Blackened Cajun Chicken Bites

I love this versatile recipe for Blackened Cajun Chicken Bites because you end up with an amazing protein and you can dress up a huge variety of foundations to form your meal. From salads to pasta to pizzas, this yummy chicken is the perfect finishing touch.

One of my favorite ways to use this blackened chicken is over linguini pasta in alfredo sauce. The chicken is also super tasty on Caesar salad.

We have more great pasta recipes too! Be sure to try this One Pot Pasta Puttanesca or make our homemade Garden Vegetable Pasta Sauce. Freezer meal cooking makes my life so much easier and our meals so much more varied than they would be if I had to pull together a meal from start to finish every night. Instead, we thaw a bag from the freezer and follow simple directions to cook our prepped meal quickly and easily in a fraction of the time. If you want more – be sure to jump in the Freezer Meal 101 Club.

Blackened Cajun Chicken Bites Recipe

Ingredients

• 3 chicken breasts, boneless, skinless, raw, cubed
• 1 Tbsp. olive oil
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. pepper
• 1 tsp. dry onion or onion powder
• 1 tsp. garlic powder
• 1 tsp. oregano
• 1 tsp. basil
• 1 tsp. thyme
• 1-2 tsp. cayenne 

How to Make Blackened Cajun Chicken Bites

Assembly Instructions

1. Place raw cubed chicken in a medium (quart-sized) freezer bag.
2. Add olive oil and squish to coat chicken.
3. In a small bowl, mix together the seasonings and pour over the chicken.
4. Seal the bag and shake the coat the chicken with the seasonings.
5. Open bag to remove excess air, seal, and freeze.

Cooking Instructions

1. Thaw overnight in the fridge.
2. Cook up in a bit of oil in a skillet until the chicken is no longer pink inside.

How can I be sure the chicken is cooked?

When you use the end of your spatula to easily cut the chicken bite in half in the skillet, you know that it is cooked. The texture changes too, and there should be no pink inside. If you have an instant read thermometer, it should read 165ºF.

What if I want my chicken caramelized?

Get your skillet good and hot. Do not add any of the liquid from the bag to the pan. Add oil to the pan. Toss the chicken in and cook until it browns to your desired caramelization.

Can I eat the chicken cold?

Yes! Once the chicken has been thoroughly chilled it can be served cold on salads or wraps, no problem. The key is to get your chicken chilled quickly after it is cooked if you plan to serve it cold. Once it is in a safe temperature zone in the fridge, it can be kept for a couple of days. You need to eat it cold (chilled in the fridge) or hot (over 165ºF) to be safe. Do not eat lukewarm or slightly heated chicken.

Blackened Cajun Chicken Bites Recipe Ideas

Increase the amount of black pepper to add extra “bite” to your bites and get that classic color.

Paprika or chili powder would give the chicken bites a slightly different, but still authentic, flavor if its your second or third time to make the recipe. You could also change out all the spices for something like Old Bay seasoning or any pre-mixed Cajun dry spice rub if you prefer.

As an added bonus from this recipe, the same seasoning mix can be used on fresh catfish or salmon.

Want to serve your blackened Cajun chicken bites on a salad like we did? It works well with these dressings: Caesar, ranch, blue cheese, Greek, Italian, or almost any vinaigrette. It should work well with any dairy-based dressing but would not play well with French, Poppyseed, or fruity dressings.

How do I store Blackened Cajun Chicken Bites

Keep the chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The great thing is — you can use the leftovers from this meat in any variety of recipes that call for cooked chicken. In fact, it can be frozen in its cooked form and thawed for use later too!

What to Serve with Blackened Cajun Chicken Bites

Make your salad, wrap, sandwich, taco, pasta or quesadilla perfection when you add this tasty chicken! it can also be served simply over rice or with mashed potatoes and cooked greens. Coleslaw or salad will also work nicely as a side. Add homemade cornbread, hush puppies, or sourdough for the perfect finishing touch.