Description
A bold and creamy pasta dish made with seared Cajun chicken, garlic butter sauce, and rich parmesan cream—twirled into every bite of tender rotini. Perfect for cozy nights or a flavor-packed family dinner.
Ingredients
1 lb chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
1 ½ tablespoons Cajun seasoning
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 ½ cups heavy cream
1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
12 oz rotini pasta
½ teaspoon salt (to taste)
¼ teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley (optional garnish)
1 teaspoon lemon zest (optional garnish)
Instructions
1. Toss chicken pieces with Cajun seasoning until evenly coated.
2. In a large skillet, melt 1 tablespoon butter over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until golden and fully cooked, about 5-7 minutes. Remove from skillet and set aside.
3. Boil rotini in salted water according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water. Drain and set aside.
4. In the same skillet, add remaining butter. Stir in minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant. Pour in heavy cream and simmer gently.
5. Stir in parmesan cheese until smooth. If needed, use reserved pasta water to adjust consistency.
6. Add cooked rotini and chicken to the sauce. Stir to combine and heat through.
7. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Garnish with parsley and lemon zest. Serve hot.
Notes
Use freshly grated parmesan for the smoothest, creamiest melt into the sauce.
Don’t skip the pasta water! It helps create a glossy, clinging sauce.
To reduce spice, cut the Cajun seasoning in half or use a milder brand.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Cajun/Italian fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate (approx. 1 ½ cups)
- Calories: 640
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 36g
- Saturated Fat: 20g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 140mg
Keywords: cajun pasta, creamy chicken, parmesan rotini, garlic butter