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Restaurant-Style Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta in 30 Minutes

Close-up of a bowl filled with creamy cajun chicken pasta, featuring linguine coated in orange sauce and topped with diced chicken and parsley.
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Make this rich, spicy Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta at home. This recipe delivers tender chicken and a velvety sauce quickly, making it perfect for busy weeknights.

Ingredients

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  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning (plus more for taste)
  • 8 ounces linguine or fettuccine pasta
  • 2 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 unsalted butter
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Season the chicken pieces generously with 1 tablespoon of Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper.
  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 5-7 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside.
  3. Add the butter to the same skillet. Once melted, add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  4. Add the chicken broth and bring it to a simmer, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
  5. Stir in the heavy cream and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Reduce the heat to low.
  6. While the sauce simmers, cook your pasta according to package directions until al dente. Before draining, reserve about 1/2 cup of the starchy pasta water.
  7. Add the cooked pasta and the cooked chicken back into the skillet with the cream sauce.
  8. Stir in the Parmesan cheese and 1/4 cup of the reserved pasta water. Stir constantly until the sauce thickens and coats the pasta evenly. Add more pasta water if the sauce seems too thick.
  9. Taste the sauce and add more Cajun seasoning, salt, or pepper as needed for bold flavor.
  10. Serve immediately, garnished with fresh parsley.

Notes

  • For an extra creamy texture, do not skip reserving and adding the starchy pasta water; it helps emulsify the sauce.
  • You can substitute shrimp for chicken or add turkey bacon for a smoky crunch.
  • If you prefer less spice, reduce the amount of Cajun seasoning used in the sauce base.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://chefsily.com/creamy-cajun-chicken-pasta-recipe-30-min/