Description
A quick, 30-minute weeknight dinner featuring seared chicken in a rich, spicy Cajun-infused cream sauce with fresh parmesan and pasta.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 large chicken breasts (about 1.5 lbs / 680g), boneless and skinless
- 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 pound fettuccine or linguine
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 1 medium red bell pepper, diced
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 cup reserved pasta water
Instructions
- Prep ingredients: Chop onion, dice bell pepper, mince garlic, cube chicken into 1-inch pieces, and grate Parmesan cheese.
- Season chicken generously with Cajun seasoning. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt 1 tablespoon butter. Sear chicken in a single layer for 3-4 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Remove chicken and set aside.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add remaining 2 tablespoons butter to the skillet. Sauté onion and bell pepper for 2-3 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- While vegetables cook, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
- Pour heavy cream into the skillet with vegetables. Scrape up brown bits from the bottom. Simmer for 3-4 minutes until sauce thickens slightly.
- Remove skillet from heat. Gradually stir in Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth. If sauce is too thick, add pasta water a tablespoon at a time.
- Return chicken to the skillet. Add drained pasta and toss to coat evenly. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Garnish with fresh parsley.
Notes
Save pasta water for the sauce. Use fresh parmesan only; pre-grated cheese contains anti-caking agents that cause graininess. Remove pan from heat before adding cheese to prevent separation. For a lighter version, substitute half-and-half for heavy cream.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 850
- Fat: 28
- Saturated Fat: 16
- Carbohydrates: 55
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 35
Keywords: Cajun chicken alfredo, creamy pasta, weeknight dinner, quick recipes, spicy pasta, comfort food