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This recipe for Chicken Alfredo pasta with a touch of the Cajun spice is such a nice alternative to the classic dish. Exciting contrast of the creamy and spicy flavours!
Can’t get enough? Try our Cajun Shrimp Pasta recipe!
I have so many pasta recipes on the website, including a classic Fettuccine Alfredo. But this one is a delicious combination of Italian and Cajun flavours rolled into one decadent dish.
I’ve always loved Cajun flavours done the traditional way like this Dirty Rice recipe. However, it’s fun to do a flavour fusion sometimes and this Cajun Chicken Alfredo is exactly that!
A mix of fiery Cajun spices and creamy Parmesan sauce. For this pasta you can use a pre-mixed, store bought Cajun seasoning or make your own following my recipe.
The Sauce
What I love about this pasta is that a classic Alfredo sauce gets mingled with the Cajun spices the chicken is coated in. This brief exposure turns it slightly spicy and orange in colour. Very pretty to look at and delicious to eat!
The Alfredo sauce is the same recipe I use for my Chicken Broccoli Alfredo and Prosciutto Wrapped Chicken Alfredo. However the taste is quite different here. (I even have a recipe for a completely plant-based version of Alfredo sauce!)
I don’t actually add any Cajun spice to the sauce itself, but it picks up the flavour from the pan the Cajun chicken was cooked in previously. (This isn’t the only time I’ve combined Alfredo sauce with Cajun flavours – check out my Blackened Chicken Alfredo!)
Recipe Tips and Notes
- I recommend cutting up chicken in small pieces as it drastically speeds up the process of cooking. Cut them in approximately equal sizes so the pieces cook at the same pace.
- Feel free to adjust the amount of the Cajun spice according to your taste. I personally think 2 tablespoons was perfect and offered just a little heat without becoming truly spicy.
- I find it easiest to buy Cajun spice mix, but making your own is not complicated. If you want to make your own, you can try my recipe.
- Make sure the heat is set to low when making the Alfredo sauce. It should barely simmer. This method allows the cream to slowly infuse and provide the silkiest texture to the sauce.
- Fettuccine and linguine pasta are the most suitable to be paired with creamy sauces. However don’t let it stop you if you have another pasta shape in mind!
- Finally do reserve some pasta water for mixing into the sauce. Pasta has an amazing ability to absorb liquid. One minute you have enough sauce and a few moments later it might look dry. This is where that reserved pasta water comes in handy for a loose and luscious sauce!
Serving Suggestions
This recipe is absolutely brilliant on its own but you might want to add a side of vegetables or a salad. In that case, I recommend Roasted Parmesan Broccoli or Pan Fried Garlic Mushrooms with Parmesan.
If you prefer to go with a salad to complete your meal, take a look at our Tomato Salad with Basil and Mozzarella (Insalata Caprese).
Storage and leftovers
Pasta only has one weakness, which is that it doesn’t keep well as leftovers. Pasta will inevitably become a bit too soggy, losing that pleasant al dente chew, especially when made in a sauce like this recipe.
Still, definitely not something to throw out, and great to have for an easy lunch the next day. Warm it up in a microwave.
You can keep it for up to three days if refrigerated in an This is an affiliate link.airtight container. The sooner you eat it the better, though! I never recommend freezing as the pasta becomes far too soggy.
More creamy pasta recipes
- 5 Minute Ravioli Sauce
- Creamy Mushroom Pasta
- Chorizo Gnocchi Recipe
- Prawn Pasta in Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce
Cajun Chicken Alfredo
Equipment
- This is an affiliate link.Large pot
- This is an affiliate link.Enamel colander
- This is an affiliate link.frying pan
Ingredients
- 2 skinless boneless chicken breasts
- 2 tbsp Cajun seasoning
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 clove garlic
- 2 tbsp butter
- 500ml/2 cups double/heavy cream
- 120g/1 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- salt to taste
- 450g/1 lbs fettuccine pasta
Instructions
- Start by cooking the pasta according to package instructions in a large pot of salted water. While the pasta is boiling, slice the chicken breasts into bite sized pieces, then coat them in the Cajun spice. You can use store bought seasoning or make mix your own using my recipe (linked in Ingredients).
- Heat the olive oil in a large pan and cook the seasoned chicken over medium heat until done all the way through, which will take approximately 5-7 minutes depending on the thickness of the pieces. Remove to a separate plate.
- Lower the heat to low. To the same pan add the butter and let it melt, then 1 clove of grated or pressed garlic and cook for 30 seconds without allowing it to burn, add the double/heavy cream and let it heat for about 5 minutes, then sir the grated Parmesan and allow the cheese to melt slowly into the sauce, continue stirring until the sauce comes together, then take it off the heat.
- Drain the pasta and reserve 125ml/½ cup of the pasta water, add the pasta to the pan with the sauce together with the cooked chicken. Toss gently to combine, season with salt to taste, add a splash of the reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce if it gets too thick.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
made this earlier in the week and we had no leftovers. kids loved it, husband loved it, i loved it. i don’t think there’s a single thing we haven’t made from your website (and we’ve made a whole lot!) that we haven’t loved so so so much. Thanks, Julia!
What a sweet comment! Thank you so much, Annika, I am thrilled you enjoy my recipes.
Looks great.
The cajun seasoning definitely adds a lot of flavor!! I prefer this over regular alfredo! It’s so good!
I agree with you, Natalie. I also prefer this one to the classic version!
Oh my word, this is INCREDIBLE!! I just wish I doubled the recipe because there’s none left!
I can relate! We love it too!
Thank you so much for sharing this amazing cajun chicken alfredo recipe! Will surely have this again! It’s really easy to make and it tasted so delicious! Highly recommended!
Thanks so much, Allyssa!