Description
A delightful and hearty dish that brings a taste of the South right to your dinner table, featuring Cajun seasoned chicken in a creamy garlic Parmesan sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips
- 12 oz linguine pasta
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Season the Chicken: In a bowl, toss the chicken strips with Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until evenly coated.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned chicken and cook for about 6–7 minutes, turning to brown on all sides. Once the chicken is cooked through, transfer it to a plate and set aside.
- Boil the Pasta: While the chicken cooks, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the linguine according to the package directions until al dente. Drain, reserving a bit of pasta water in case your sauce needs thinning later.
- Make the Sauce Base: Using the same skillet, add a touch more olive oil if needed and sauté the minced garlic over medium heat for about 1 minute, just until fragrant.
- Build the Cream Sauce: Pour in the chicken broth, scraping up any flavorful bits from the pan. Stir in the heavy cream and simmer for 2–3 minutes to let the sauce begin to thicken.
- Add Pasta and Cheese: Toss the drained linguine into the skillet and mix to coat in the sauce. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until it melts into a silky, cheesy coating. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of reserved pasta water to loosen it up.
- Finish with Chicken: Return the chicken strips to the skillet and stir everything together so the spicy chicken blends with the creamy pasta.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley and serve hot for a bold, comforting dinner with a Cajun kick.
Notes
Adjust the Cajun seasoning based on your taste preference. For extra flavor, consider adding vegetables like bell peppers or spinach to the sauce.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Sauteing
- Cuisine: Southern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 60g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 100mg
Keywords: Cajun chicken, creamy pasta, linguine, garlic Parmesan