Description
Creamy cajun shrimp and chicken pasta blends spicy Louisianan flavors with rich, velvety sauce for an unforgettable meal. Comfort meets excitement in this one-pan dish that satisfies your craving for bold, Southern-inspired cuisine.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 large boneless, skinless chicken breast (cut into bite-sized pieces)
- 0.5 lb (226 g) large shrimp (peeled and deveined)
- 8 oz (226 g) fettuccine or penne pasta
- 1.5 cups heavy cream
- 2 tsps Cajun seasoning
- 2 tbsps unsalted butter
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 0.5 cup chicken broth
- 0.5 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp salt
- 0.75 tsp black pepper
- 0.5 tsp smoked paprika (optional)
- 0.25 tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for extra spice)
- 0.5 cup cherry tomatoes (halved, optional)
- 0.25 cup chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Extra Parmesan cheese for topping
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Bring salted water to a vigorous boil, submerge pasta, and cook until al dente, stirring intermittently to prevent clumping. Drain in a colander and set aside in a warm spot.
- Protein Seasoning: Generously coat chicken and shrimp with Cajun spice blend, ensuring complete coverage of each morsel.
- Protein Searing: Heat skillet with olive oil, sear chicken until golden and fully cooked, then transfer to a holding plate. In the same pan, quickly cook shrimp until pink and slightly charred, then remove.
- Sauce Foundation: Reduce skillet heat, sauté garlic and shallots until fragrant and translucent. Pour in heavy cream, stirring continuously to create a smooth, thickening sauce.
- Cheese Integration: Whisk in parmesan cheese until completely melted and smoothly incorporated into the creamy base.
- Protein Reunion: Return chicken and shrimp to the skillet, gently coating each piece with the rich, spicy cream sauce.
- Final Assembly: Delicately toss pasta with the Cajun-spiced protein and cream sauce, ensuring thorough flavor distribution.
- Presentation: Garnish with fresh parsley and an additional sprinkle of Cajun seasoning. Serve immediately while piping hot, showcasing a vibrant and aromatic culinary creation.
Notes
- Manage Spice Intensity: Adjust Cajun seasoning levels to personal heat tolerance by reducing or increasing the spice blend, ensuring a comfortable yet flavorful experience for all palates.
- Prevent Seafood Overcooking: Cook shrimp quickly over high heat for just 2-3 minutes, watching for pink color and slight curl to maintain tender, succulent texture without becoming rubbery.
- Create Sauce Consistency: Whisk parmesan cheese gradually into cream, stirring constantly to prevent clumping and achieve a smooth, silky sauce that coats pasta evenly without separating.
- Maximize Flavor Depth: Use cast iron skillet if possible for better heat retention and additional flavor development, allowing proteins to caramelize and create rich, complex taste profiles.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 640
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 34 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 54 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg