Description
A quick and delicious one-pan meal featuring Cajun seasoned chicken and a creamy Parmesan cheese sauce over penne pasta.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz penne pasta
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into thick slices
- 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter, divided
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 tsp Cajun seasoning
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 4 oz Velveeta cheese, cubed
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan
- 2 oz cream cheese
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp chopped parsley
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Begin by bringing a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the penne pasta and cook until just tender, about 10-12 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- Season the Chicken: In a bowl, season the chicken slices with Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper, making sure each piece is well coated.
- Brown the Chicken: In a large skillet, heat the olive oil with 2 tablespoons of butter over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until golden on the outside and fully cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Once done, transfer to a plate.
- Sauté the Garlic: Reduce the heat to medium. Melt the remaining butter in the skillet, then add the minced garlic, cooking briefly until fragrant.
- Create the Sauce Base: Pour in the chicken broth and heavy cream, stirring gently to deglaze the skillet, scraping up the flavorful bits.
- Add the Cheeses: Stir in the Velveeta cheese, mixing until melted. Then add the mozzarella, Parmesan, and cream cheese, stirring until the sauce is smooth and slightly thickened.
- Season the Sauce: Incorporate the garlic powder and lemon juice to balance the richness of the sauce.
- Combine with Pasta: Add the cooked penne to the sauce, tossing until every piece is covered in the creamy mixture.
- Mix in the Chicken: Return the chicken to the skillet and gently mix everything together, warming for about one minute until well combined.
- Garnish and Serve: Finish with chopped parsley and serve hot.
Notes
Use fresh ingredients for the best flavor. Adjust seasoning to taste.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
Keywords: Cajun chicken, creamy pasta, quick dinner, one-pan meal