Description
Irresistible Five‑Ingredient Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta is a quick, spicy, and comforting pasta dish that brings restaurant‑style flavor to your dinner table with minimal effort. Creamy sauce, tender chicken, and Cajun seasoning make this pasta bold, filling, and perfect for weeknights.
Ingredients
- 500 g (about 1 lb) boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, sliced into strips
- 2–3 tablespoons Cajun seasoning (store‑bought or homemade)
- 250 ml (1 cup) heavy cream
- 300–350 g pasta (penne, fettuccine, or linguine)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Optional: 1–2 tablespoons olive oil or butter (for cooking), salt and black pepper to taste, chopped fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Cook pasta in salted boiling water according to package directions. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain and set aside.
- While pasta cooks, toss chicken strips with Cajun seasoning until evenly coated.
- In a large skillet over medium‑high heat, heat a bit of oil or butter. Add seasoned chicken and cook 5–7 minutes, until golden and cooked through.
- Reduce heat to medium and pour in the heavy cream, stirring to deglaze the pan and combine with the chicken and spices.
- Add the cooked pasta and Parmesan cheese to the skillet. Toss everything together until pasta is coated in the creamy sauce. If the sauce seems too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water.
- Season with extra salt and pepper if needed. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve hot, with extra Parmesan on the side.
Notes
- For extra veggies, stir in sautéed bell peppers, spinach, or mushrooms before adding the cream.
- You can swap chicken for shrimp for a seafood twist.
- Use half‑and‑half or evaporated milk to lighten the dish. For dairy‑free, try coconut or cashew cream instead of heavy cream.
- Any pasta shape works — penne and fettuccine hold the sauce well.
- Leftovers reheat nicely: warm gently on the stove or microwave with a splash of cream or milk.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 120mg
