Description
Juicy Cajun-spiced chicken bites tossed with tender rigatoni in a velvety Parmesan cream sauce, a cozy weeknight pasta that brings gentle heat, rich comfort, and restaurant-style satisfaction at home.
Ingredients
- Chicken breast, boneless and skinless: 1 1/2 pounds, cut into bite-size pieces
- Cajun seasoning: 2 tablespoons, to coat chicken
- Olive oil: 2 tablespoons, for searing
- Garlic, fresh: 4 cloves, minced
- Rigatoni pasta: 12 ounces, uncooked
- Chicken broth, low sodium: 1 cup, for sauce body
- Heavy cream: 1 1/2 cups, for silky richness
- Parmesan cheese, freshly grated: 1 cup, for nutty depth
- Paprika, sweet: 1 teaspoon, for warmth and color
- Kosher salt: to taste, to balance flavors
- Black pepper, freshly ground: to taste, to finish
- Fresh parsley: 1/4 cup, chopped for garnish
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil for the pasta.
- Toss chicken pieces with Cajun seasoning until evenly coated.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken in a single layer until golden and cooked through, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
- Add minced garlic to the same skillet and sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Pour in chicken broth, scraping up browned bits.
- Reduce heat to medium. Stir in heavy cream, paprika, and Parmesan until smooth and lightly thickened, 3 to 5 minutes.
- Cook rigatoni to al dente according to package directions. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain.
- Add chicken and rigatoni to the skillet. Toss, loosening with reserved pasta water as needed for a glossy, creamy sauce. Season with salt and pepper.
- Fold in parsley, taste and adjust seasoning, then serve hot with extra Parmesan if desired.
Notes
- Note: Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency without diluting flavor.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan for the smoothest melt and best flavor.
- For milder heat, choose a mild Cajun blend or use less seasoning.
- A squeeze of lemon just before serving brightens the creamy sauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 2 cups
- Calories: 620
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 780 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 58 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 140 mg
Keywords: cajun chicken pasta, creamy rigatoni, weeknight dinner, spicy creamy pasta, easy chicken rigatoni, parmesan cream sauce