Description
A flavorful dish combining juicy Cajun garlic butter chicken with creamy four-cheese rigatoni, perfect for family dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs chicken breast, thick-cut into pieces
- 4 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tsp Cajun seasoning
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp onion powder
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 lb rigatoni pasta
- 3 tbsp butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1.5 cups heavy cream
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 4 oz Velveeta, cubed
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup mozzarella, shredded
- 3/4 cup Parmesan, grated
- 1/2 cup cheddar, shredded
- 1 tsp Cajun seasoning
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Cook rigatoni in salted boiling water until al dente, then drain and set aside.
- Prepare chicken by seasoning it with Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, onion powder, salt, and black pepper.
- Sear chicken in a large skillet with melted butter and olive oil for 4-5 minutes per side, adding minced garlic towards the end.
- Make the sauce by melting butter in the same skillet and cooking garlic until fragrant.
- Add heavy cream and whole milk, bringing to a gentle simmer while stirring.
- Incorporate Velveeta and cream cheese into the sauce, mixing until completely melted.
- Add mozzarella, cheddar, and Parmesan, stirring until the sauce is thick and glossy.
- Season the sauce with Cajun seasoning, salt, and black pepper to taste.
- Combine the rigatoni with the cheese sauce until fully coated.
- Serve the chicken and rigatoni on a plate, garnished with fresh parsley and extra Parmesan.
Notes
For variations, you can substitute shrimp for chicken or use different pasta shapes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Searing and Baking
- Cuisine: Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 675
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 36g
- Saturated Fat: 20g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 60g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 40g
- Cholesterol: 120mg
Keywords: Cajun chicken, creamy pasta, family dinner, garlic butter, four cheese rigatoni