Description
Cajun Garlic Butter Chicken Penne in Creamy Parmesan Sauce is a bold and flavorful pasta dish featuring tender Cajun-seasoned chicken, rich garlic butter, and a luscious Parmesan cream sauce tossed with penne pasta. It’s a perfect one-pan meal packed with spice and comfort.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz penne pasta
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning (more to taste)
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- Fresh chopped parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Cook penne pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Toss chicken pieces with Cajun seasoning, then add to the skillet and cook for 6–8 minutes until golden and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
- Reduce heat to medium. In the same skillet, melt butter and sauté minced garlic for about 1 minute until fragrant.
- Pour in heavy cream, stir, and bring to a gentle simmer. Cook for 2–3 minutes.
- Stir in Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth. Season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if using.
- Add cooked pasta and chicken back to the skillet. Toss everything together until well coated in the sauce and heated through.
- Serve hot, garnished with chopped parsley and extra Parmesan if desired.
Notes
- Use half-and-half instead of heavy cream for a lighter version.
- Add sautéed bell peppers or spinach for extra veggies and color.
- Adjust Cajun seasoning to taste—start with less and add more if needed.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 670
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 38g
- Saturated Fat: 20g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 36g
- Cholesterol: 145mg
Keywords: Cajun chicken pasta, creamy penne, garlic butter chicken, Parmesan sauce, spicy pasta dish