Description
This Cajun Chicken Alfredo Pasta is a creamy, flavorful dish combining tender chicken seasoned with Cajun spices, rich cream cheese Alfredo sauce, and perfectly cooked farfalle pasta. It’s a comforting, quick meal that can be easily customized with fresh vegetables and healthy swaps for a delicious and satisfying dinner.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Pasta
- 8 ounces farfalle pasta (or your favorite type)
Chicken & Seasoning
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 2 breasts), cut into bite-size pieces
- 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning, more or less to taste
Sauce
- 2 Tablespoons butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened and cut into small pieces
- 1 cup milk
- 3/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, more to taste if needed
Optional Vegetables
- Fresh vegetables such as bell peppers, spinach, broccoli, asparagus, zucchini, or mushrooms (see note)
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Cook the farfalle pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Once cooked, drain the pasta, rinse it under cold water to stop cooking, then set aside.
- Cook Chicken and Vegetables: In a large pot or skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Add the bite-sized chicken pieces and any desired fresh vegetables. Season everything with Cajun seasoning and cook for 3-4 minutes until the chicken is nearly cooked through and the vegetables are tender-crisp.
- Make Alfredo Sauce and Combine: Pour in the milk and add the softened cream cheese pieces. Stir continuously until the cream cheese melts completely and the sauce becomes smooth, which takes about 2-3 minutes. Next, stir in the cooked pasta and parmesan cheese. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Mix until everything is well combined and heated through.
- Serve: Serve the Cajun Chicken Alfredo Pasta immediately while warm, optionally garnished with extra parmesan or fresh herbs if desired.
Notes
- Vegetables: Add extra vegetables like bell peppers, spinach, broccoli, asparagus, zucchini, or mushrooms for more nutrition. Sauté these in a little olive oil, salt, and pepper before cooking the chicken, then stir everything together at the end.
- Healthy Swaps: Use whole grain pasta to boost fiber. Substitute olive oil for butter, or reduce butter amount by half. Use low-fat cream cheese and skim milk to lower fat content.
- Make Ahead Instructions: Cook the vegetables and chicken in the creamy sauce, then store the mixture in the fridge. When ready to serve, reheat the sauce mixture and stir in cooked pasta and shredded cheese.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 1.25 cups)
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
