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Cajun Chicken Alfredo
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free (if gluten-free pasta is used)
Description
This Cajun Chicken Alfredo recipe is a quick and easy dinner perfect for busy weeknights. It combines the bold, smoky heat of Cajun seasoning with a smooth, creamy Alfredo sauce, creating a satisfying and flavorful meal ready in under 30 minutes. Versatile and family-friendly, this dish pairs beautifully with pasta, rice, or zoodles and offers options for one-pan cooking and ingredient variations.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein
- 2–3 Chicken breasts or thighs, sliced into thin strips or bite-sized pieces
Seasonings & Fats
- 2 tbsp Cajun seasoning
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2–3 cloves garlic, minced
Sauces & Dairy
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- 1/4 cup milk or chicken broth (optional, to thin sauce)
Carbohydrates
- 8 oz fettuccine or your favorite pasta
Garnish
- Fresh parsley or basil, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Slice the chicken into thin strips or bite-sized pieces. Season generously with Cajun seasoning on all sides. Heat butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, then add the chicken. Cook until golden brown and no longer pink inside, about 5-7 minutes. Remove chicken and set aside, leaving the drippings in the pan.
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add fettuccine or pasta of choice and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving about 1 cup of pasta water. Set pasta aside.
- Make the Alfredo Sauce: In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium and add minced garlic. Sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Pour in heavy cream and stir well, scraping up any browned bits from the pan. Let the sauce simmer gently for 3-4 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Add Cheese and Combine: Gradually whisk in Parmesan cheese until melted and sauce is smooth. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of milk or reserved pasta water to reach desired consistency. Return cooked chicken to the skillet and toss to coat evenly in the sauce.
- Finish and Serve: Add the drained pasta to the skillet, tossing everything together until the pasta is completely coated with sauce. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Garnish with fresh parsley or basil before serving.
Notes
- Use fresh garlic for a brighter, more robust flavor.
- Don’t overcook the chicken; cook until just done for juiciness.
- Reserve pasta water to thin sauce as needed without losing flavor.
- Grate Parmesan cheese fresh for optimal melting and creaminess.
- Add Cajun seasoning gradually to control spice level perfectly.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Cajun, Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 600 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 40 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg