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30-Minute Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta: Restaurant Flavor Fast

Close-up of creamy pasta topped with seasoned, cubed cajun chicken pieces.
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Make rich, restaurant-style Cajun Chicken Pasta at home in under 30 minutes. This easy recipe combines tender chicken, bold Cajun spices, and a luscious cream cheese sauce for ultimate weeknight comfort.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning (or more, to taste)
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 8 ounces linguine or fettuccine pasta
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 4 ounces cream cheese, cut into cubes
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Season the chicken pieces evenly with Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
  2. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet 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. Reserve about 1/2 cup of the pasta water before draining the pasta.
  4. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the minced garlic to the same skillet and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  5. Pour in the chicken broth and bring to a simmer, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Let it reduce slightly for 2 minutes.
  6. Stir in the heavy cream and bring the mixture back to a gentle simmer. Add the cream cheese cubes and stir continuously until the sauce is smooth and melted.
  7. Stir in the Parmesan cheese until the sauce is fully incorporated and creamy. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water until you reach your desired 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 spicier kick, add 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper to your seasoning blend.
  • If you do not have heavy cream, you can substitute it with half-and-half, but the sauce will be thinner.
  • This recipe works well with chicken thighs if you prefer darker meat.

Nutrition

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