Description
How to make creamy cajun chicken spaghetti with tender pasta and bold spices that delivers weeknight comfort with a satisfying kick of heat.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta & Protein
- 1 lb spaghetti pasta
- 1.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Cajun Seasonings
- 2 tbsp cajun seasoning blend
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Creamy Base
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 green onions, sliced for garnish
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring large pot of salted water to boil. Cook spaghetti according to package directions until just shy of al dente. Reserve 1 cup pasta water before draining.
- Season Chicken: Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces and season generously with cajun seasoning, paprika, garlic powder, cayenne, and black pepper. Let sit 5 minutes to absorb flavors.
- Sear Chicken: Heat olive oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add seasoned chicken and cook 6-8 minutes until golden brown and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
- Sauté Vegetables: In same skillet, add butter, diced onion, and bell pepper. Cook 4-5 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Build Sauce: Pour in chicken broth and heavy cream, whisking to combine. Bring to gentle simmer and let reduce slightly for 3-4 minutes until it starts to thicken.
- Combine Everything: Add cooked pasta, seared chicken, and parmesan cheese to sauce. Toss everything together, adding pasta water as needed to achieve creamy consistency.
- Finish & Serve: Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. Serve immediately garnished with sliced green onions and extra parmesan cheese if desired.
Notes
- Don’t skip seasoning the chicken beforehand – it makes a huge difference in flavor penetration.
- Save pasta water before draining – it’s essential for achieving the perfect sauce consistency.
- Freshly grated parmesan melts much better than pre-shredded cheese and won’t clump.
- Taste and adjust seasonings at the end since cajun blends vary in salt content.
- Leftovers reheat beautifully with a splash of broth to loosen the sauce.
- This recipe easily doubles for larger families or meal prep portions.
Allergy Information: Dairy, Gluten
Nutrition
- Calories: 485 calories
- Fat: 22g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Protein: 32g