Chicken Pasta 30 Minutes Easy Delicious Recipe
This Five-Ingredient Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta is a quick and delicious meal that combines tender Cajun-seasoned chicken with a rich and creamy Parmesan sauce, tossed with perfectly cooked fettuccine. Ready in just 30 minutes, this easy pasta dish offers bold flavors with minimal ingredients, making it perfect for busy weeknights or casual dinners.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Sautéing and boiling
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Lactose
Ingredients
Scale
Protein
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced or cubed
Spices
- 1 tablespoon of Cajun seasoning blend
Pasta
- 8 ounces of fettuccine or your preferred pasta
Dairy
- 1 cup of heavy cream or half-and-half
- 1 cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Others
- Olive oil (for cooking chicken)
- Salt (for pasta water)
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Begin by bringing a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the fettuccine or pasta of your choice and cook according to the package instructions, typically for 8-12 minutes, until al dente. Drain the pasta and set it aside, reserving a small amount of the cooking liquid in case you need to thin out the sauce later.
- Cook the Chicken: In a large skillet or sauté pan, heat a drizzle of olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the sliced or cubed chicken and sprinkle with the Cajun seasoning. Cook the chicken, stirring occasionally, until it’s fully cooked through and no longer pink in the center, about 6-8 minutes.
- Make the Sauce: Reduce the heat to medium-low and pour in the heavy cream or half-and-half. Whisk in the grated Parmesan cheese until the sauce is smooth and creamy. Allow the sauce to simmer for a few minutes, stirring occasionally, until it thickens to your desired consistency.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the cooked pasta to the skillet with the creamy Cajun sauce. Toss everything together until the pasta is evenly coated. If the sauce seems too thick, you can thin it out by adding a splash or two of the reserved pasta cooking liquid.
Notes
- Use half-and-half instead of heavy cream for a lighter version, but the sauce will be slightly less rich.
- Feel free to adjust the Cajun seasoning to your preferred spice level.
- Reserve some pasta cooking water to adjust sauce consistency as needed.
- For added veggies, consider stirring in some sautéed bell peppers or spinach.
- Parmesan cheese must be freshly grated for best melting and flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 480 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg
Keywords: Cajun chicken pasta, creamy chicken pasta, easy pasta recipe, quick dinner, five ingredient recipes
