Description
Spicy rattlesnake pasta delivers a bold culinary adventure through southwestern cuisine. Fiery flavors blend seamlessly with tender meat, creating a memorable dish you’ll savor with enthusiasm.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced
- 12 oz (340 g) penne pasta
- 1 ½ cups (360 ml) heavy cream (or half & half for lighter version)
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 2 tbsps butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small red bell pepper, sliced
- 1 small green bell pepper, sliced
- 1 small jalapeno, thinly sliced (optional)
- 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Boil salted water and cook penne until al dente, then drain completely and set aside for later incorporation.
- Chicken Enhancement: Coat chicken slices with Cajun spices, garlic powder, and black pepper. Sear in olive oil until golden and fully cooked, then transfer to a separate plate.
- Vegetable Sautéing: In the same skillet, melt butter and sauté minced garlic, bell peppers, and jalapeno until softened and fragrant, releasing their vibrant flavors.
- Sauce Creation: Pour heavy cream into the pan and bring to a gentle simmer. Integrate Parmesan cheese, additional Cajun seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Stir until the sauce thickens and develops a rich, creamy consistency.
- Final Assembly: Combine cooked pasta and chicken with the luxurious sauce, ensuring thorough coating. Garnish with fresh parsley and extra Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately with garlic bread or a crisp salad for a complete meal.
Notes
- Manage Pasta Texture: Cook penne exactly to al dente stage to prevent mushiness, ensuring a firm bite that holds sauce perfectly without becoming soggy or overcooked.
- Control Spice Intensity: Adjust Cajun seasoning and red pepper flakes according to personal heat tolerance, starting with less and gradually increasing for balanced, customizable flavor profile.
- Prevent Sauce Separation: Maintain low-medium heat when adding cream and cheese to avoid curdling, stirring consistently to create smooth, velvety consistency that clings beautifully to pasta.
- Maximize Flavor Layering: Sear chicken in same skillet after initial cooking to capture existing caramelized spice fragments, developing deeper, more complex taste throughout the entire dish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 670
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 34 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 62 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg