Description
Spicy Cajun Chicken Pasta delivers bold Louisiana flavors with creamy sauce and tender chicken. Hearty ingredients blend perfectly, creating a restaurant-quality meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced into strips
- 2–3 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
Pasta and Vegetables:
- 8 ounces (225 grams) penne pasta
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced
- 1 yellow bell pepper, sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- Water for boiling
- Salt for pasta water
Sauce and Seasoning:
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) heavy cream
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) chicken broth
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and black pepper
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare a large pot of salted water and bring to a rolling boil at high heat. Submerge penne pasta and cook until perfectly tender, following package timing. Carefully drain and reserve pasta.
- Generously coat chicken slices with robust Cajun seasoning. Warm olive oil in a spacious skillet over medium-high temperature. Sear chicken pieces for 5-7 minutes, rotating periodically, ensuring golden exterior and complete internal cooking. Transfer chicken from skillet and set aside.
- Without cleaning the skillet, reduce heat to medium and melt butter. Introduce diced bell peppers and sauté for 3-4 minutes until vegetables soften and develop slight caramelization. Incorporate minced garlic and briefly cook until aromatic.
- Lower skillet temperature to medium. Stream heavy cream and chicken broth into pan, actively scraping accumulated browned fragments from surface. Allow liquid to simmer 3-5 minutes, stirring consistently until sauce thickens and develops rich consistency.
- Incorporate freshly grated Parmesan cheese, stirring until completely melted and sauce becomes silky smooth. Reunite cooked pasta and seasoned chicken with creamy Cajun sauce, gently tossing to ensure comprehensive coating.
- Enhance dish with freshly chopped parsley for vibrant color and additional flavor dimension. Serve immediately while sauce remains hot and luxuriously creamy.
Notes
- Opt for freshly grated Parmesan cheese for maximum flavor and smoother sauce consistency.
- Customize Cajun seasoning intensity by adjusting the amount to suit personal spice tolerance.
- Pat chicken dry before seasoning to ensure better browning and crisp exterior.
- Use gluten-free pasta and verify Cajun seasoning ingredients for a celiac-friendly version.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 488 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 430 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 33 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg