Cajun Chicken Pasta
A flavorful and hearty pasta dish featuring tender chicken in a creamy, spicy Cajun sauce. Perfect for a satisfying weeknight meal with a kick.
Equipment
- large pot
- large skillet
- small bowl
- cutting board
- knife
- wooden spoon
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into 1-inch pieces
- 12 oz fettuccine pasta
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Vegetables & Aromatics
- 1 green bell pepper diced
- 1 red bell pepper diced
- 1 onion diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Cajun Seasoning
- 1 tbsp paprika
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper adjust to taste
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 0.5 tsp salt or to taste
- 0.5 tsp black pepper or to taste
Instructions
Cooking Steps
- Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente; drain and set aside.
- While pasta cooks, combine all Cajun seasoning ingredients in a small bowl.
- Pat chicken dry, then toss with half of the Cajun seasoning.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil and butter over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove chicken and set aside.
- Add bell peppers, onion, and remaining Cajun seasoning to the same skillet. Cook until vegetables soften, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- Pour in heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet.
- Reduce heat to low, then stir in Parmesan cheese until melted and the sauce is smooth.
- Add cooked chicken and pasta to the skillet, tossing to coat evenly with the sauce.
- Serve immediately, garnished with fresh parsley if desired.
Notes
For extra spice, add a pinch more cayenne pepper. You can also add other vegetables like mushrooms or spinach. Freshly grated Parmesan cheese will yield the best results for a creamy sauce.