Description
Creamy cajun shrimp and chicken pasta blends New Orleans flavors with rich, spicy ingredients. Southern comfort meets culinary excitement, inviting you to savor each bold, complex bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 2 chicken breasts, diced
- 0.5 pound (226 grams) shrimp, peeled and deveined
Pasta and Base:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) fettuccine or penne pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup chicken broth
Seasonings and Vegetables:
- 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 0.5 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 0.5 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 0.5 cup bell peppers, sliced
Instructions
- Prepare pasta al dente according to package guidelines, then thoroughly drain and reserve.
- Warm olive oil in a spacious skillet at medium-high temperature. Generously coat chicken with Cajun spice blend, searing for 5-7 minutes until golden and completely cooked through. Transfer protein to a separate plate.
- Using identical skillet, quickly sauté shrimp for 2-3 minutes per side until they turn pink and become slightly crisp. Remove and set aside.
- Reduce heat, melt butter and briefly toast minced garlic for 60 seconds. Gradually whisk in heavy cream, chicken broth, grated Parmesan, paprika, red pepper flakes, ground black pepper, and salt until sauce becomes uniformly smooth and velvety.
- Incorporate cooked pasta, previously seared chicken, sautéed shrimp, diced tomatoes, and sliced bell peppers into the creamy sauce. Gently toss ingredients to ensure comprehensive coating.
- Allow mixture to simmer for 2-3 minutes, enabling flavors to meld and sauce to slightly thicken. Sprinkle freshly chopped parsley as a vibrant garnish before serving piping hot.
Notes
- Choose low-sodium Cajun seasoning to control salt intake without losing flavor punch.
- Substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or Greek yogurt for lighter, healthier version.
- Toast Cajun spices briefly before seasoning chicken to enhance their deep, smoky aromatics.
- Select quick-cooking shrimp like medium or small sizes to prevent overcooking and maintain tender texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg