Cajun Chicken Pasta
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Chili’s copycat recipe made at home with an amazingly creamy melt-in-your-mouth alfredo sauce. And you know it tastes 10000x better!
I honestly haven’t been to Chili’s in about 10 years, but this place really holds such good memories for me. I’ve come here with family on many occasions and I might have had my first real date here. No joke.
Hey, when you’re 16, Chili’s is the best date night you will get. And I wouldn’t mind it on a Friday night right now. After all, have you seen their blooming onion?
But this cajun pasta has always had my heart and soul. That creamy alfredo sauce just melts right in your mouth, complemented by the spicy kick of the cajun chicken topped with refreshing tomato chunks and freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
The flavor combination is just perfect, and you can make it right at home in 30 minutes or less. That way you can have date night with the same restaurant-quality at home, in sweats, binge-watching Netflix. Done.
Cajun Chicken Pasta
Ingredients
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 1 tablespoon cajun seasoning
- 8 ounces penne pasta
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream, or more, to taste
- ½ teaspoon lemon zest
- ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 Roma tomatoes, diced
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine chicken, 1 tablespoon olive oil and cajun seasoning.
- Heat remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a cast iron grill pan over medium high heat. Add chicken and cook, flipping once, until cooked through, about 5-6 minutes on each side. Set aside and keep warm.
- In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta according to package instructions; drain well.
- Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic, and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes.
- Gradually whisk in heavy cream and lemon zest. Cook, whisking constantly, until incorporated, about 1-2 minutes.
- Stir in Parmesan until slightly thickened, about 1-2 minutes. If the mixture is too thick, add more heavy cream as needed; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Stir in pasta and gently toss to combine.
- Serve immediately with chicken, garnished with tomatoes and parsley, if desired.
Did you make this recipe?
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Absolutely delicious!
Family raved about this one. Thanks!
So good! The only thing we did different was green onion instead of parsley
This recipe is awesome. EVERYONE in my family loves it and raves about it. We even commented recently that this recipe is better than the Cajun Pasta at House of Blues (Orlando). Definitely a “keeper.”
Super Easy to make, great instructions and my whole family loves it.
This WAS good! I was skeptical, but it’s very good. I used chicken thighs. I didn’t have heavy cream OR half and half, so I used milk thickened with corn starch, and also added a few tablespoons of cream cheese for extra fat.
Why only four stars then? You did a completely different recipe.
This was an absolute hit at our house. I used “Slap ya mama” Cajun seasoning and it turned out delicious! Will definitely make again!
My hubby and I LOVE this recipe!! He asks for it about once a month.
I printed this recipe out about a year ago and finally made it today. Don’t know what I was waiting for, it was fantastic and easy to make. Took 15 min. Thank you for sharing
It can out amazing, my family is in love with this meal. Thank you
Delicious! My family loved this and we will definitely make it again!
Since I don’t have a preference, can you please tell me which brand of cajun seasoning you used. I’d really appreciate it. I am so looking forward to making this dish later in the week. Thank you!
I would definitely recommend Tony Chachere’s if its available in your area.
Great copycat recipe! The Chili’s where I live closed several years ago, and this was my favorite dish there. Thank you for the recipe. It was a hit!
Delicious! I used a Swiss/gruyere blend and more lemon zest. It was still a big hit! Great recipe. Quick and easy!
This has become one of our go to chicken and pasta dishes. I love how the Cajun seasoning balances the richness of the cream sauce. Tonight the husband requested something with chicken, garlic and cream and I knew this would check all the boxes. I always add about 2 teaspoons of Cajun seasoning to the cream sauce as well as the chicken.
So good and so easy! My family LOVED this meal!
This Recipe is the best!!! I love cooking this for my family. I also add Fried chicken on top of the pasta so yummy!!!
This was amazing!!! my whole family loved it. i would recommend leaving out the lemon. i think the lemon was overpowering. it was so good. 10/10
the cream sauce recipe is deliciously brilliant!
Thank you for this delicious recipe. Everyone liked it. I didn’t have fresh tomatoes or parsley so I used a drained can of diced tomatoes sprinkled with a little of the cajun spice.
Will definitely make again, such a quick week night meal.
After the first time I made this, my husband and kids loved it. Now it’s one of our favorites and I make it twice a month. I even made it while entertaining family and they loved it. My 16 year old niece got the recipe from me and she makes it regularly. It is super easy to make and everyone loves it.
I made this for my boss and her 2 fussy girls, they loved it, I will be making this again.
What could I substitute for heavy cream
You could try half and half. Another idea, use milk and thicken with cornstarch (if your goal is to lighten the recipe a bit, or if you just don’t have heavy cream).
I’ve been making this about once a week or so for years. My family never gets tired of it. The flavor can’t be beat!