Description
A rich and flavorful Southern Style Creamy Parmesan Chicken Pasta featuring tender Cajun-seasoned chicken, a luscious Parmesan cream sauce, and perfectly cooked pasta. This comforting dish blends Southern spices with creamy textures for a hearty meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken & Seasoning
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Pasta
- 12 ounces penne or rotini pasta
Sauce
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon hot sauce (optional)
Garnish
- Chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Season and Cook Chicken: Season the bite-sized chicken pieces evenly with Cajun seasoning. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 6–8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it is golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Prepare Sauce: In the same skillet, melt the unsalted butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant. Pour in the heavy cream and chicken broth, then stir in Parmesan cheese, salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, and onion powder. Stir well and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Let it cook for 4–5 minutes until the sauce slightly thickens.
- Cook Pasta: While the sauce simmers, cook the pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water following package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta and reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water.
- Combine Pasta, Chicken, and Sauce: Return the cooked chicken and pasta to the skillet with the creamy sauce. Stir to coat everything evenly. If the sauce is too thick, add small amounts of reserved pasta water to loosen it. Let the mixture simmer together for 2–3 minutes to meld the flavors. Optionally, drizzle in hot sauce to add a spicy kick.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley over the pasta dish as a garnish. Serve immediately while warm for a comforting meal.
Notes
- For extra richness, stir in 2 tablespoons of cream cheese to the sauce.
- You can use rotisserie chicken instead of cooking chicken breasts for a quicker option.
- Adjust the amount of Cajun seasoning according to your preferred level of heat.
