Description
Golden, crispy chicken bites meet creamy Cajun-spiced Alfredo sauce wrapped around gemelli pasta. This recipe balances crunch, spice, and comfort in one easy-to-make dinner perfect for any day of the week.
Ingredients
1 lb chicken breast, cut into bite-sized chunks
1 cup breadcrumbs
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 large eggs, beaten
8 oz gemelli pasta
2 tbsp butter
1 cup heavy cream
2 cloves garlic, minced
1½ tsp Cajun seasoning
½ tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
2 tbsp chopped parsley
Instructions
1. Cut chicken breast into bite-sized pieces.
2. In a bowl, whisk eggs. In a separate bowl, mix breadcrumbs with Parmesan.
3. Dip chicken pieces into eggs, then into breadcrumb-Parmesan mix.
4. Air fry at 400°F for 10–12 mins or bake at 425°F for 20 mins, flipping once.
5. Boil gemelli pasta in salted water until al dente. Drain and reserve ½ cup pasta water.
6. In a skillet, melt butter and sauté garlic until fragrant.
7. Add heavy cream, Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper. Simmer until slightly thickened.
8. Toss cooked pasta with the sauce. Add a splash of pasta water if needed.
9. Plate the pasta, top with crispy chicken, and garnish with parsley and extra Parmesan.
10. Serve hot and enjoy!
Notes
Use freshly grated Parmesan for better melt and flavor in both the breading and sauce.
Don’t skip reserving pasta water — it helps thin out and emulsify the Alfredo sauce.
To reduce spice, cut Cajun seasoning in half or opt for a mild version.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Air Fryer / Oven + Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 610
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 760mg
- Fat: 34g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 175mg
Keywords: crispy chicken, Cajun Alfredo, gemelli pasta