If you love a creamy pasta sauce recipe this Cajun seasoned dish is for you! Cajun Chicken Alfredo is a zesty and spiced version of a creamy Alfredo sauce and is loaded with strips of seasoned chicken.
BUYING OR MAKING CAJUN SEASONING
For this recipe you can mix up your own Cajun spice blend, or you can buy it pre-mixed. I use this brand of Cajun spice but if you prefer mixing your own seasoning you will need:
- Smoked paprika
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Dried oregano
- Cayenne pepper
- Dried thyme
- Salt and pepper
HOW TO COOK THE CHICKEN
For this recipe you’ll need thin chicken breasts. You can use regular sized chicken breasts and slice them thin, or buy the packaged thin chicken. Either way will work fine, it’s just ideal to have an even thickness throughout the chicken so they cook evenly. Depending on your chicken’s thickness you may need to adjust the cook time. I always recommend getting a digital meat thermometer to ensure it’s been cooked to 165 degrees.
Step 1. Once you have your chicken prepared to thickness, season both sides with 1 tablespoon of Cajun seasoning.
Step 2. Heat 1 and 1/2 tablespoons of olive oil in a pan. Add the chicken and cook 4 minutes.
Step 3. Flip the chicken, add 1/2 tablespoon of butter to the pan, and cook the chicken an additional 3 minutes or until 165 degrees internal temperature is reached.
Step 4. Remove from the pan, cover with foil and let rest until you’ve finished the rest of the recipe!
STORAGE AND REHEATING
You can store any leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days. I recommend slicing the chicken into more bite-sized pieces and mixing into the pasta before storing in the fridge. That’s just for my personal preference with the flavor of reheating chicken.
You can reheat this in the microwave for a delicious work lunch, or if you’re at home add everything to a pan with a little more cream to bring back the creaminess of the pasta.
For more Cajun spiced recipes!
Cajun Chicken Pasta
Cajun Mac and Cheese
And Alfredo sauces are one of my specialties, check out all these variations!
Easy Alfredo
Pesto Alfredo
Basil Alfredo
Alfredo Tomato Sauce
Spicy Alfredo
Cajun Chicken Alfredo
Cajun Chicken Alfredo is a zesty and spiced version of a creamy Alfredo sauce and loaded with strips of seasoned chicken.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Saute
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
For the chicken
3 thin chicken breasts
1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
1 and 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 tablespoon butter
1 roma tomato, diced
For the pasta
1 box thin linguini (you’ll only use about 3/4 of the box)
1 tablespoon butter
3 cloves garlic, grated
2 cups light cream
1 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup reserved pasta water
2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
Instructions
1. Season the chicken breasts on both sides with the Cajun seasoning. Meanwhile bring a pot of salted water to boil and cook 3/4 box of the noodles. I always find the full box is too much pasta! Before draining the pasta, carefully reserve 1/2 cup of the water. You’ll use this later incase you need to thin out the cream sauce.
2. In a large pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the seasoned chicken breasts and cook for 4 minutes. Flip the chicken, add the butter, and cook for an additional 3-4 minutes. Use a digital meat thermometer to check when chicken has been cooked to 165 to avoid over or under cooking. Once cooked, remove chicken to a plate, cover with foil, and set aside to complete the recipe.
3. Carefully wipe the pan clean to remove excess oil (it’s ok to leave any parts of the seasoning or chicken, this adds more flavor!), then add the tablespoon of butter, the grated garlic, and the Cajun seasoning. Cook for 1 minute, then pour in the cream and heat to a low simmer, about 5 minutes.
4. Add in the Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Cook on low for 5-7 minutes until thickened. If sauce becomes too thick, use the pasta water to thin it out (you may not need any!)
5. Slice the chicken into strips or bite sized pieces, whichever you prefer. Add the cooked noodles to the sauce and stir to coat.
Let’s eat! To serve, add as much noodles as you’d like to a bowl, top with chicken and diced tomatoes.
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