Description
A comforting and delicious Cajun-inspired dish featuring bowtie pasta, chicken, and a creamy garlic Parmesan sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
- 10 oz bowtie pasta (farfalle)
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 3 tbsp butter, divided
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 tsp Cajun seasoning (plus extra for taste)
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 3 oz Velveeta cheese, cubed
- 3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 oz cream cheese, softened
- Fresh parsley or green onions, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the bowtie pasta until just tender. Drain and set aside.
- While the pasta cooks, season the chicken strips evenly with Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper.
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil with 2 tablespoons of butter over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until browned and lightly crisp on the outside, turning occasionally. Once cooked through, transfer the chicken to a plate.
- Reduce the heat to medium and melt the remaining butter in the same skillet. Add the minced garlic and cook briefly until fragrant.
- Pour in the chicken broth, heavy cream, and milk, stirring gently to combine into a smooth base.
- Add Velveeta, mozzarella, cheddar, Parmesan, and cream cheese to the skillet. Stir steadily until the cheeses melt into a rich, thick sauce.
- If you like, sprinkle in a little extra Cajun seasoning and let the sauce simmer gently until it thickens and becomes glossy.
- Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss until every piece is well coated in the cheesy sauce.
- Gently mix the chicken back into the pasta and sauce, allowing everything to heat through together.
- Serve warm, topped with chopped parsley or green onions for a fresh finish.
Notes
For variations, consider substituting shrimp for chicken or making it vegetarian by using sautéed mushrooms and zucchini.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 62g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
Keywords: Cajun pasta, chicken pasta, creamy pasta, family dinner, comfort food