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Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta

A close-up of fettuccine pasta topped with chunks of chicken in a rich, orange-hued Creamy Cajun Pasta with Chicken and Spice sauce, garnished with parsley.
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Make a rich and spicy Cajun chicken pasta featuring a homemade cream sauce.

Ingredients

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  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust for heat)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 12 ounces fettuccine or penne pasta
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley for garnish

Instructions

  1. Season the chicken pieces with salt, pepper, paprika, oregano, thyme, and cayenne pepper.
  2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove chicken and set aside.
  3. Add the chopped onion to the same skillet and cook until soft, about 3 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
  4. Cook the pasta according to package directions. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water before draining.
  5. While the pasta cooks, make the sauce: Melt butter in the skillet over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute to create a roux.
  6. Slowly whisk in the chicken broth until smooth. Bring to a simmer and cook until the sauce thickens slightly, about 3 minutes.
  7. Reduce heat to low. Stir in the heavy cream and Parmesan cheese until the sauce is smooth and creamy. Do not boil after adding cream.
  8. Return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Add the drained pasta. Toss everything together to coat. If the sauce is too thick, add a little of the reserved pasta water until you reach your desired consistency.
  9. Serve immediately, garnished with fresh parsley.

Notes

  • For a thicker sauce, simmer the cream mixture for a few extra minutes before adding cheese.
  • If you prefer less heat, reduce the cayenne pepper to 1/4 teaspoon or omit it entirely.
  • Use any short pasta shape like penne or rotini if fettuccine is unavailable.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://epicureempire.com/creamy-cajun-pasta-with-chicken-and-spice/