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Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta with Authentic Spice

Close-up of delicious Creamy Cajun Pasta with Chicken and Spice, featuring fettuccine noodles coated in a rich orange sauce and topped with parsley.
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Follow this recipe to make a rich, creamy Cajun pasta dish featuring tender chicken and a bold spice blend. This recipe focuses on achieving a velvety sauce texture and deep flavor.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound fettuccine or penne pasta
  • 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 1 green bell pepper, chopped
  • 2 celery stalks, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 tablespoons Cajun seasoning blend (store-bought or homemade)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley for garnish

Instructions

  1. Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving about 1/2 cup of the starchy cooking water. Set aside.
  2. Season the chicken pieces evenly with 1 tablespoon of the Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper.
  3. Heat the olive oil and butter in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned chicken and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside.
  4. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the chopped onion, bell pepper, and celery to the same skillet. Sauté until the vegetables soften, about 5 minutes.
  5. Add the minced garlic and the remaining 2 tablespoons of Cajun seasoning to the vegetables. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  6. Pour in the chicken broth and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Let it simmer for 2 minutes.
  7. Stir in the heavy cream and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Cook for 3-4 minutes until the sauce begins to thicken slightly.
  8. Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until the sauce is smooth and creamy. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water until you reach your desired consistency.
  9. Return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Add the drained pasta and toss everything together until the pasta is fully coated in the sauce.
  10. Serve immediately, garnished with fresh parsley.

Notes

  • For a spicier sauce, increase the amount of Cajun seasoning or add 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper with the spices.
  • If you prefer a richer sauce, substitute half-and-half for the heavy cream, but simmer for a shorter time to prevent curdling.
  • You can substitute smoked sausage for some of the chicken if desired; cook it with the vegetables.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://cookerycourier.com/creamy-cajun-pasta-with-chicken-and-spice/