Description
This delicious creamy chicken pasta comes together in 30 minutes all in one pot! A perfect weeknight dinner that your family will love. Tons of flavor!
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 12 oz penne, fettuccine, or spaghetti
- Salt for pasta water
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup chicken broth
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
- Red pepper flakes (optional)
- Fresh lemon juice (optional)
- Sautéed vegetables (optional)
- Shrimp (optional)
Instructions
- Season chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and Cajun seasoning. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Cook chicken for about 6-7 minutes on each side until golden brown and cooked through. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
- Add water and a generous pinch of salt to the same skillet to boil for pasta. Cook pasta until al dente, roughly 8-10 minutes, reserving 1 cup of pasta water. Drain pasta and set aside.
- Melt butter in the same pot over medium heat. Add minced garlic, stirring until fragrant. Stir in Cajun seasoning and smoked paprika, allowing flavors to meld for a minute. Pour in heavy cream and chicken broth, bringing to a simmer. Cook until slightly thickened, about 3-5 minutes. Stir in grated Parmesan cheese until melted and creamy.
- Chop the rested chicken into bite-sized pieces and combine it back into the sauce along with the cooked pasta. Mix everything thoroughly, adding reserved pasta water to reach desired consistency. Finish with red pepper flakes and lemon juice, and sprinkle with parsley if desired. Serve immediately.
Notes
For even more customizability, add sautéed vegetables or shrimp if you’re feeling adventurous. Perfect with garlic bread or salad.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 23g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 80mg