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Creamy Garlic Butter Chicken Penne in Cajun Cream Sauce on a plate

Garlic Butter Chicken Penne in Cajun Cream Sauce

A rich and spicy garlic butter chicken penne in Cajun cream sauce that is easy to make and perfect for a comforting meal.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Cajun
Calories: 670
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the chicken
  • 1.25 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced into strips
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1-1.5 tsp Cajun seasoning
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
  • Salt & black pepper, to taste
For the pasta
  • 12 oz penne pasta
For the sauce
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 3/4 cup chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
  • 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella (optional) Optional for extra creaminess
  • 2 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional) For added spice
  • 1/2 cup reserved pasta water (if needed) To adjust the sauce consistency
  • Fresh parsley (for garnish)
  • Extra Parmesan (for garnish)
  • A light sprinkle of Cajun seasoning (for garnish)

Method
 

Cook the penne
  1. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Cook penne until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, drain, and set aside.
Cook the Cajun chicken
  1. Pat chicken strips dry and season with Cajun seasoning, paprika, salt, and pepper.
  2. Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  3. Sear chicken until golden and cooked through, about 3–4 minutes per side. Remove and set aside.
Make the Cajun cream sauce
  1. In the same skillet, sauté garlic in butter until fragrant (~30 seconds).
  2. Add chicken broth and heavy cream, stirring to combine.
  3. Mix in cream cheese, then add Parmesan and mozzarella, stirring until smooth and velvety.
  4. Season with red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper.
  5. Thin with pasta water if needed for desired consistency.
Combine pasta & chicken
  1. Toss cooked penne into the creamy Cajun sauce. Fold in chicken strips until fully coated.
Serve & garnish
  1. Plate pasta, sprinkle with parsley, extra Parmesan, and a pinch of Cajun seasoning.
  2. Serve immediately.

Notes

For a lighter version, use half-and-half instead of heavy cream and reduce cheese. To make it spicier, add more Cajun seasoning or a dash of hot sauce.