Description
Embrace the warmth of home-cooked meals with this creamy Cajun chicken pasta, featuring tender chicken coated in zesty Cajun seasoning, mixed with perfectly cooked pasta and a velvety 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
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup chicken broth
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
- Red pepper flakes (optional)
- Fresh lemon juice (optional)
- Sautéed vegetables (optional)
- Shrimp (optional, as a chicken substitute)
Instructions
- Season the chicken breasts with Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook chicken for 7-8 minutes per side until fully cooked, then remove and let rest before slicing.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente, then drain, reserving ½ cup of pasta water.
- Melt butter in the same skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté until fragrant. Stir in Cajun seasoning and smoked paprika, cooking for an additional minute.
- Pour in heavy cream and chicken broth, then bring to a gentle simmer for 3-5 minutes.
- Slice the chicken and add it back into the skillet with the drained pasta. Toss everything together, adding reserved pasta water gradually until the sauce reaches desired creaminess.
Notes
Feel free to customize by swapping chicken for shrimp or adding your favorite vegetables for a personalized touch.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 60g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 82mg