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30-Minute Restaurant-Style Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta

Close-up of a white bowl filled with creamy cajun chicken pasta, featuring orange-tinted sauce and seasoned chicken pieces.
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You can make this unbelievably rich, velvety, and spicy creamy Cajun chicken pasta at home in just 30 minutes. This easy pasta dinner uses a simple technique to guarantee that perfect restaurant-style sauce texture.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning (adjust for your spice preference)
  • 12 ounces linguine or fettuccine pasta
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 cup reserved pasta water
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Season the chicken pieces with salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, thyme, and Cajun seasoning. Mix well to coat.
  2. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned chicken and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5 to 7 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside.
  3. Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Before draining, reserve about 1/2 cup of the starchy pasta water. Drain the pasta.
  4. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the butter to the same skillet. Once melted, add the minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant. Do not let the garlic burn.
  5. Pour in the chicken broth and let it simmer for 2 minutes, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. This adds flavor to your sauce.
  6. Reduce the heat to low. Slowly whisk in the heavy cream. Let the sauce warm through, stirring constantly for about 3 minutes until it starts to thicken slightly.
  7. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until smooth. If the sauce seems too thick, whisk in a few tablespoons of the reserved pasta water until you reach a luscious consistency.
  8. Return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Add the drained pasta and toss everything together until the pasta and chicken are fully coated in the creamy Cajun sauce.
  9. Serve immediately, garnished with fresh parsley.

Notes

  • For a bolder flavor, use a high-quality, spicy Cajun seasoning blend.
  • If you prefer a milder sauce, reduce the amount of Cajun seasoning or add an extra splash of heavy cream.
  • This recipe works well with shrimp or sliced smoked sausage if you want to swap the chicken.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://kitchenslang.com/creamy-cajun-chicken-pasta/