Description
A bold and flavorful pasta dish featuring creamy sauce and Cajun-seasoned chicken. Perfect for quick weeknight dinners or special gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 12 oz penne, fettuccine, or spaghetti
- Salt, for the pasta water
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup chicken broth
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
- Red pepper flakes
- Fresh lemon juice
- Sautéed vegetables (optional)
- Shrimp (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Season the chicken with Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper. In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat and cook the chicken for about 6-7 minutes per side until golden and fully cooked. Set aside to rest before slicing.
- Cook the Pasta: In a large pot, boil salted water and cook your pasta according to package directions. Reserve some pasta water before draining, as it’ll help the sauce adhere better.
- Make the Cajun Cream Sauce: In the same skillet, melt butter and sauté the minced garlic until fragrant. Stir in the Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, heavy cream, and chicken broth, scraping up any brown bits. Let this bubble for a few minutes until slightly thickened.
- Combine the Pasta, Chicken, and Sauce: Add the drained pasta and sliced chicken into the sauce, tossing everything to coat evenly. If the sauce is too thick, add a bit of reserved pasta water to reach your desired consistency.
Notes
For extra flavor, consider adding sautéed vegetables or substituting chicken with shrimp. Save some pasta water for adjusting the sauce consistency.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 70g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 100mg