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30-Minute Restaurant-Style Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta

A close-up shot of creamy cajun chicken pasta featuring fettuccine noodles coated in a rich, orange sauce with chunks of seasoned chicken.
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Make restaurant-quality Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta at home in just 30 minutes. This recipe delivers a rich, velvety sauce and tender, spicy chicken for a satisfying weeknight dinner.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning (divided)
  • 12 ounces fettuccine or linguine pasta
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 cup reserved pasta water
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for extra kick)
  • Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Season the chicken pieces with salt, pepper, and 1 tablespoon of the Cajun seasoning.
  2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set 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 and set aside.
  4. Reduce the heat to medium. Add butter to the same skillet. Once melted, add the chopped onion and cook until softened, about 3 minutes.
  5. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in the remaining 1 tablespoon of Cajun seasoning and the smoked paprika.
  6. Pour in the chicken broth and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Let it simmer for 2 minutes.
  7. Stir in the heavy cream and bring the sauce to a gentle simmer. Do not boil rapidly.
  8. Whisk in the reserved pasta water gradually until the sauce thickens slightly to your desired consistency. This step helps create that perfect velvety Cajun sauce.
  9. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese and cayenne pepper, if using, until the cheese melts smoothly into the sauce.
  10. 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 rich, creamy Cajun sauce.
  11. Serve immediately, garnished with fresh parsley. This easy comfort food dinner is ready fast!

Notes

  • For a restaurant style pasta at home, make sure to use the starchy pasta water; it emulsifies the sauce and prevents it from becoming watery.
  • If you want to add shrimp, cook it quickly in the skillet after the chicken, then set it aside with the chicken.
  • You can swap turkey bacon for added smoky flavor if you prefer a variation on this creamy Cajun chicken.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://kitchenuser.net/creamy-cajun-chicken-pasta-recipe/