Description
A creamy and spicy pasta dish featuring tender chicken strips coated in garlic and Parmesan, tossed with spaghetti and enveloped in a rich Cajun cream sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced into thin strips
- 12 oz spaghetti
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 4 tbsp salted butter, divided
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 1.5 tsp Cajun seasoning
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp freshly cracked black pepper
- 0.5 cup grated Parmesan (for crusting the chicken)
- 1.5 cups heavy cream
- 3/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar
- 3/4 cup grated Parmesan (for sauce)
- 2 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp dried basil
- 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- Fresh chopped parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Begin by slicing the chicken breasts into thin strips and dicing the garlic. Measure out the remaining ingredients to ensure everything is ready for cooking.
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil and 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Once hot, add the sliced chicken and season with Cajun seasoning, salt, black pepper, and smoked paprika. Cook until the chicken is golden and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes.
- While the chicken cooks, bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside, reserving some pasta water.
- In the same skillet with the chicken, add the minced garlic and sauté for a minute. Pour in the chicken broth and heavy cream, combining well. Stir in the cream cheese, mozzarella, cheddar, and additional Parmesan until melted and creamy. Adjust seasoning with Italian herbs and crushed red pepper as desired.
- Add in the cooked spaghetti and toss everything together until the pasta is well coated. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of reserved pasta water to loosen it up.
- Remove from heat and sprinkle fresh parsley on top before serving. Enjoy your rich and spicy garlic Parmesan chicken spaghetti!
Notes
Perfect for dinner and great for leftovers. Customize the spice level by adjusting the amount of Cajun seasoning.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 25
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 640
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 16g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 56g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 37g
- Cholesterol: 150mg