Description
This Creamy Parmesan Rotini with Cajun Garlic Butter Chicken is a flavorful and rich pasta dish that combines tender, spicy chicken with a luscious creamy parmesan sauce. Perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner, this recipe features perfectly cooked rotini pasta tossed in a smooth garlic cream sauce and topped with Cajun-seasoned chicken for a kick of bold flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 oz rotini pasta
- Salt to taste (for pasta water)
Chicken
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast or thighs, cubed
- 2 tbsp Cajun seasoning
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Sauce
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 oz cream cheese (optional)
- 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsp reserved pasta water (if needed)
- 2 tbsp chopped parsley or Italian herb blend
Instructions
- Season the Chicken: Generously coat the cubed chicken pieces with Cajun seasoning, ensuring each piece is well-seasoned for maximum flavor.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned chicken and cook until golden brown and cooked through, then remove from heat and set aside.
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the rotini pasta and cook until al dente according to package instructions. Drain the pasta and set aside, reserving some pasta water.
- Sauté Garlic: In the same skillet, melt the butter over low heat. Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute, being careful not to burn the garlic.
- Create the Cream Sauce: Pour in the heavy cream and stir in the cream cheese if using. Let the mixture simmer gently for 2 to 3 minutes to thicken slightly.
- Add Parmesan: Gradually stir in the freshly grated parmesan cheese, mixing constantly until the sauce is smooth and creamy.
- Toss Pasta in Sauce: Add the cooked rotini to the skillet and toss to coat the pasta evenly with the sauce. Use reserved pasta water a little at a time to loosen the sauce if it’s too thick.
- Combine Chicken and Pasta: Return the cooked Cajun chicken to the skillet with the pasta and gently toss everything together to combine the flavors.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle chopped parsley or an Italian herb blend on top for freshness and serve the dish hot.
Notes
- Using cream cheese is optional but adds an extra creamy texture to the sauce.
- Reserve some pasta water before draining as it helps to adjust the sauce consistency perfectly.
- Adjust Cajun seasoning amount based on preferred spice level.
- For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or milk though sauce will be less rich.
- Ensure not to overcook the pasta; al dente texture works best.
