Description
This one-skillet comfort dish combines tender seared chicken bites in a creamy jalapeño garlic sauce with twisted rotini pasta tossed in a rich cheddar Cajun blend. It’s spicy, cheesy, and full of Southern soul with every bite—perfect for dinner nights when you want to impress without a lot of effort.
Ingredients
1.5 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
2 jalapeños, finely chopped (remove seeds for less heat)
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup heavy cream
1.5 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
12 ounces rotini or fusilli pasta
Salt and pepper to taste
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional garnish)
Instructions
1. Cut chicken into chunks and season with Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper.
2. Heat olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken in batches for 6-8 minutes until golden and cooked through. Set aside.
3. In the same skillet, add 1 tablespoon butter. Sauté chopped jalapeños and minced garlic for 2-3 minutes until softened and fragrant.
4. Reduce heat to medium. Pour in heavy cream, scraping the pan’s bottom, and let simmer for 5 minutes.
5. Stir in cheddar cheese and melt completely to form a smooth sauce.
6. In a separate pot, boil pasta in salted water until al dente. Drain and reserve ½ cup of pasta water.
7. Add cooked pasta to the skillet. Toss to coat. Add reserved pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce.
8. Return seared chicken to the skillet and stir to combine.
9. Garnish with parsley and serve hot.
Notes
Searing the chicken in batches prevents overcrowding and ensures a golden crust.
Freshly shredded cheddar melts smoother than pre-shredded varieties.
Stir pasta immediately after combining to help the sauce cling to every twist.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Cajun-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 640
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 38g
- Saturated Fat: 21g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 40g
- Cholesterol: 145mg
Keywords: chicken pasta, creamy jalapeño pasta, cheddar Cajun pasta