Cajun Chicken Alfredo (Print Version)
# Ingredients:
→ Main Ingredients
01 -
3 chicken breasts
02 -
6 tablespoons butter
03 -
1 lb. mafaldine pasta (or swap for fettuccini or linguini)
04 -
4 tablespoons olive oil
05 -
6-8 cloves garlic, chopped finely
06 -
2 cups heavy cream
07 -
1.5 cups grated parmesan cheese
08 -
4 tablespoons blackened seasoning, split up
09 -
salt and pepper
→ Blackened Seasoning
10 -
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
11 -
2 tablespoons smoked paprika
12 -
1 tablespoon onion powder
13 -
2 teaspoon garlic powder
14 -
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
15 -
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
16 -
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
17 -
1 teaspoon salt
# Instructions:
01 -
Flatten chicken so each piece is just about 1/4 inch thick, then massage some oil and seasoning all over (use about 2-3 tablespoons per side).
02 -
Take a skillet and heat it to medium-high. Drizzle in 2 tablespoons olive oil and cook the chicken for 3-4 minutes (look for a rich, golden crust underneath).
03 -
Flip it once, lower the heat, and toss 2 tablespoons butter plus 2 teaspoons minced garlic into the pan. Let the garlic butter soak into the chicken as it finishes cooking—give it around 5-6 minutes, or ensure the inside temp hits 165°F.
04 -
Pull the chicken from the heat, lay it on a plate, and tent it with foil to let it sit before slicing.
05 -
Using the same pan on medium, throw in the rest of the butter to melt. Add the garlic you’ve minced, letting it cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
06 -
Pour in the heavy cream next with 2-3 teaspoons of the blackened seasoning. Let it come to a light boil and stick on low heat to thicken up for about 5 minutes.
07 -
While that sauce is happening, boil the noodles until they’re just slightly firm to bite, saving 1/3 cup of the pasta water before draining.
08 -
Stir the parmesan cheese into the sauce, letting it melt in. Adjust the spices to your liking.
09 -
Add the pasta water you saved back to the sauce, stir, then toss in the noodles. Mix everything together, lay the chicken slices on top, and sprinkle a little extra Cajun spice if you’d like. Then, serve it up!
# Notes:
01 -
Great with Texas toast or garlic bread on the side.
02 -
You can use regular paprika if smoked isn’t available.
03 -
Fettuccini or linguini noodles work fine instead of mafaldine.