Description
A bold, creamy, and spicy weeknight dinner that combines seared Cajun chicken with a rich Parmesan cream sauce over fettuccine, ready in just 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes or strips
- 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning (divided)
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (divided)
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 pound fettuccine or penne
- 1 tablespoon salt (for pasta water)
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Pat chicken dry and toss with 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning and a drizzle of oil.
- Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken in batches for 3-4 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Remove to a plate, leaving drippings in the pan.
- While chicken cooks, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
- Reduce skillet heat to medium-low. Melt butter in the same skillet. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute without browning.
- Add remaining 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning and garlic powder; stir for 30 seconds.
- Pour in heavy cream and chicken broth. Whisk to combine and simmer for 3-4 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Remove skillet from heat. Gradually stir in Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth. Add pasta water if needed to adjust consistency.
- Return pasta and chicken to the skillet. Toss to coat evenly. Adjust salt if needed.
- Serve immediately topped with fresh parsley, black pepper, and a drizzle of olive oil.
Notes
[‘Use fresh Parmesan cheese; pre-grated cheese contains anti-caking agents that can make the sauce grainy.’, ‘Reserve pasta water to help emulsify the sauce and adjust consistency.’, ‘Remove pan from heat before adding cheese to prevent it from becoming grainy or separating.’, ‘For a lighter version, substitute half-and-half for heavy cream and reduce Parmesan.’, ‘For gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta.’, ‘For dairy-free, use coconut cream and nutritional yeast.’]
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 1
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 850
- Fat: 32
- Saturated Fat: 18
- Carbohydrates: 55
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 35
Keywords: Cajun Chicken Alfredo, creamy pasta, weeknight dinner, spicy chicken, one-pan meal, easy pasta recipe, family friendly