Chicken Pasta 30 Minutes Easy Delicious Recipe
This Five-Ingredient Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta is a quick and easy dinner option that combines tender Cajun-spiced chicken with a rich, creamy Parmesan sauce tossed with perfectly cooked fettuccine. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s a delicious and comforting meal with bold flavors that requires minimal ingredients and effort.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Boiling, Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Salt
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced or cubed
- 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning blend
Pasta
- 8 ounces fettuccine or preferred pasta
Sauce
- 1 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Olive oil for cooking (about 1 tablespoon)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the fettuccine or your preferred pasta and cook according to package instructions, usually 8-12 minutes, until al dente. Drain the pasta and set aside, reserving a small amount of the cooking water to thin the sauce if necessary.
- Cook the chicken: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat a drizzle (about 1 tablespoon) of olive oil. Add the sliced or cubed chicken and sprinkle evenly with the Cajun seasoning. Cook the chicken, stirring occasionally, until fully cooked and no longer pink inside, about 6-8 minutes.
- Make the creamy sauce: Reduce the heat to medium-low. Pour in the heavy cream or half-and-half and whisk to combine. Stir in the freshly grated Parmesan cheese until the sauce becomes smooth and creamy. Let it simmer for a few minutes, stirring occasionally until the sauce thickens to your liking.
- Toss pasta with sauce: Add the cooked pasta to the skillet with the creamy Cajun chicken sauce. Toss well to evenly coat the pasta in the sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash or two of the reserved pasta water to loosen it up. Serve immediately.
Notes
- For a lighter version, substitute half-and-half instead of heavy cream.
- You can adjust the amount of Cajun seasoning based on your spice preference.
- Reserve pasta water to help adjust the thickness of the sauce.
- Parmesan cheese should be freshly grated for best flavor and smooth texture.
- Use gluten-free pasta to make this recipe gluten free.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1/4 of recipe)
- Calories: 520 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 480 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg
Keywords: Cajun chicken pasta, creamy pasta recipe, easy chicken dinner, five ingredient pasta, quick Cajun chicken
