Description
A bold, flavor-packed dinner featuring chicken and pasta in a rich, creamy Cajun sauce.
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 (bell peppers, onions, spinach, or mushrooms)
- Shrimp (optional, substitute for chicken)
Instructions
- Season the chicken breasts with Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper. In a skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat and cook the chicken until golden brown and cooked through, about 6-7 minutes per side. Remove the chicken and let it rest before slicing it into strips.
- In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve about a cup of the pasta water, then drain the pasta.
- In the same skillet, add butter and let it melt. Sauté minced garlic until fragrant, then add Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, heavy cream, and chicken broth. Stir until the sauce is smooth, then add cheese and let it melt.
- Toss the cooked pasta and sliced chicken into the sauce, stirring to coat. If the sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water to reach desired consistency. Serve hot, garnished with parsley and a squeeze of lemon juice.
Notes
For a vegetarian option, use firm tofu or sautéed veggies instead of chicken. You can adjust the spice level by modifying the amount of Cajun seasoning.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 620
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 58g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 120mg