Description
A comforting yet vibrant dish that blends smoky Cajun chicken, creamy whipped roasted garlic feta, and crunchy roasted chickpeas over perfectly cooked pasta. This easy dinner recipe is packed with flavor, combining Southern spice with Mediterranean creaminess. Perfect for weeknights, special occasions, or when you want an impressive meal without spending all day in the kitchen. Great for quick dinner ideas, easy pasta recipes, and flavor-packed food ideas.
Ingredients
250 g spaghetti or linguine
300 g chicken breast cut into bite-sized pieces
2 tbsp Cajun seasoning
1 tbsp olive oil for cooking chicken
Salt and black pepper to taste
150 g feta cheese crumbled
2 cloves roasted garlic
2 tbsp Greek yogurt or cream cheese
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp milk adjust for texture
400 g canned chickpeas drained and rinsed
1 tbsp olive oil for chickpeas
1 tsp smoked paprika
0.5 tsp garlic powder
Salt to taste
Fresh parsley chopped for garnish
Paprika for garnish
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 200°C (400°F). Pat chickpeas completely dry, toss with olive oil, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and salt. Spread on a baking sheet and roast 20–25 minutes, shaking halfway, until crispy.
2. Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Cook pasta until al dente, reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain.
3. Season chicken with Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper. Heat olive oil in skillet over medium-high heat, cook chicken 6–8 minutes until golden and cooked through. Remove and keep warm.
4. In a food processor, blend feta, roasted garlic, Greek yogurt, olive oil, and milk until smooth and creamy. Adjust consistency as needed.
5. Plate pasta, top with Cajun chicken, whipped feta, and crispy chickpeas. Garnish with parsley and paprika. Serve immediately.
Notes
Adjust Cajun seasoning to taste; some blends are spicier than others.
Keep whipped feta airy by blending cold and folding in warm garlic.
Always reserve pasta water to help sauce cling perfectly to noodles.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop and Oven
- Cuisine: Fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 750
- Fat: 20
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Unsaturated Fat: N/A
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 56
- Fiber: 7
- Protein: 28
- Cholesterol: 65
Keywords: creamy cajun chicken pasta, whipped feta pasta, crispy chickpeas recipe, easy dinner, pasta ideas