Description
A quick recipe for creamy, spicy Cajun pasta using chicken broth instead of vodka.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound pasta (penne or rotini)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until browned and cooked through. Remove chicken and set aside.
- Add onion to the skillet and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
- Pour in chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Bring to a simmer.
- Stir in heavy cream, Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper. Cook until the sauce thickens slightly, about 3-5 minutes.
- Reduce heat to low. Stir in Parmesan cheese until the sauce is smooth.
- Return the cooked chicken and the drained pasta to the skillet. Toss everything to coat evenly in the sauce.
- Season with salt and pepper as needed.
- Serve immediately, garnished with fresh parsley.
Notes
- If you prefer a thicker sauce, let it simmer uncovered for a few extra minutes before adding the cheese.
- You can substitute shrimp or sausage for the chicken.
- For extra heat, add a dash of hot sauce to the finished dish.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 25 min
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 750
- Fat: 30
- Saturated Fat: 15
- Unsaturated Fat: 10
- Trans Fat: 1
- Carbohydrates: 65
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 35
- Cholesterol: 110
Keywords: Cajun pasta, spicy pasta, creamy pasta, no vodka sauce, chicken pasta, weeknight dinner