Description
Creamy cajun chicken pasta brings Southern spice to your dinner table with a zesty, rich sauce coating perfectly seasoned chicken and al dente noodles. Comfort meets bold flavor in this quick, satisfying meal perfect for weeknight cooking.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 large chicken breasts, sliced into thin strips
- 8 oz (226 g) fettuccine or penne pasta
- 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 1 yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsps Cajun seasoning (divided)
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
- Extra Parmesan, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Protein Preparation: Season chicken strips robustly with Cajun spice blend, then sear in hot olive oil until achieving a golden exterior and safe internal temperature, approximately 6-7 minutes.
- Vegetable Infusion: Utilize the same skillet to transform bell peppers and garlic into an aromatic base, sautéing until edges become translucent and release their distinctive fragrance.
- Sauce Development: Introduce heavy cream, chicken broth, and additional Cajun seasoning to the skillet, allowing the mixture to gently simmer and reduce, creating a rich, velvety sauce that intensifies in flavor.
- Pasta Integration: Cook pasta to al dente perfection in a separate pot, then drain while maintaining a slight moisture, ensuring ideal texture for sauce absorption.
- Final Composition: Combine seared chicken, perfectly cooked pasta, and grated Parmesan into the simmering sauce. Gently toss to ensure complete flavor melding, adjusting seasoning with salt and cracked pepper to personal preference.
- Elegant Presentation: Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and optional Parmesan cheese, serving immediately to preserve the sauce’s luxurious warmth and creamy consistency.
Notes
- Spice Intensity Control: Adjust Cajun seasoning to personal heat tolerance by reducing or increasing spice blend. Mild palates can start with less, while heat enthusiasts can amplify the kick.
- Protein Flexibility: Swap chicken with shrimp, turkey, or tofu for diverse dietary preferences. Ensure alternative proteins are cooked to safe internal temperatures and seasoned similarly.
- Cream Sauce Consistency: Monitor sauce thickness by slow simmering and occasional stirring. Add extra broth if sauce becomes too dense or additional cream for richer texture.
- Pasta Precision: Cook pasta just until al dente to prevent mushiness. Slightly undercooked pasta continues cooking when mixed with hot sauce, maintaining ideal texture and preventing soggy results.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 610
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 36 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 48 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg