Description
Indulge in the rich flavors of this Southern-style creamy Parmesan chicken pasta. Tender chicken, al dente pasta, and a decadent sauce come together for a satisfying meal that’s easy to make.
Ingredients
Scale
For the chicken:
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
For the pasta:
- 12 ounces penne or rotini pasta
For the sauce:
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- 1/2 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes (optional)
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Prepare the pasta according to package directions, drain, and set aside.
- Cook the chicken: Season chicken with Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper. Cook in a skillet until golden and cooked through. Set aside.
- Make the sauce: In the same skillet, sauté garlic in butter. Add chicken broth, heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, paprika, and cayenne. Simmer until slightly thickened.
- Combine: Add cooked pasta, chicken, and sun-dried tomatoes. Toss to coat and heat through.
- Serve: Garnish with parsley and enjoy!
Notes
- For a Southern twist, try using andouille sausage or sautéed bell peppers.
- You can lighten the sauce by using half-and-half instead of heavy cream.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Southern-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups
- Calories: 560
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 36g
- Cholesterol: 130mg
