Description
A rich and creamy pasta dish featuring chicken or shrimp with a kick of Cajun spices and vibrant bell peppers.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz penne pasta
- 1 lb chicken breast or shrimp (sliced or peeled/deveined)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 1 green bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
- 1 ½ cups heavy cream
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
- Fresh parsley or cilantro, chopped
- Juice of ½ lime
- ½ cup reserved pasta water
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Boil the penne in salted water until al dente and reserve ½ cup of pasta water. Drain the rest.
- Cook the Protein: Season chicken or shrimp with salt, pepper, and 1 teaspoon of Cajun seasoning. Heat oil in a skillet and sear until fully cooked (5-8 minutes for chicken; 3-4 minutes for shrimp).
- Sauté the Veggies: In the same skillet, add remaining oil and butter, sauté bell peppers and garlic until softened.
- Build the Sauce: Add Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, and red pepper flakes. Pour in the heavy cream and stir in Parmesan until creamy.
- Combine Everything: Add drained pasta and cooked protein to the sauce, mixing well. Adjust thickness with reserved pasta water as needed.
- Garnish and Serve: Adjust seasoning, garnish with herbs and lime juice, and serve hot.
Notes
Adjust the spice level to your preference and use fresh ingredients for the best flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 700
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 80g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 40g
- Cholesterol: 100mg