Description
A bold and creamy Cajun-style pasta dinner featuring tender garlic butter chicken, penne pasta, and a velvety Parmesan sauce. Perfect for a weeknight indulgence or a comfort-food crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients
2 large chicken breasts, cut into chunks
2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 ½ cups heavy cream
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
12 ounces penne pasta
Salt, to taste
Black pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
Instructions
1. Season the chicken with Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper.
2. In a skillet, heat olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter over medium-high heat. Sear chicken until golden brown and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
3. Cook penne pasta in salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water before draining.
4. In the same skillet, melt remaining butter and sauté garlic until fragrant.
5. Pour in the heavy cream, bring to a simmer, then whisk in Parmesan until smooth and creamy.
6. Stir in reserved pasta water if the sauce is too thick.
7. Add cooked pasta to the sauce, tossing to coat.
8. Return chicken to the skillet and stir everything together.
9. Garnish with parsley and serve hot.
Notes
Use freshly grated Parmesan for the smoothest sauce texture. Pre-shredded cheeses may clump.
Adjust the spice level by varying the Cajun seasoning or mixing in chili flakes for extra heat.
Don’t skip the pasta water—it’s key to binding the sauce and pasta perfectly.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Cajun-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 635
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 590mg
- Fat: 36g
- Saturated Fat: 20g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 43g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 145mg
Keywords: Cajun chicken pasta, creamy Parmesan sauce, garlic butter pasta