Description
Bold, creamy, and packed with flavor, this Creamy Cajun Chicken Rigatoni with Garlic Mozzarella Sauce is the ultimate weeknight comfort food. Juicy Cajun-seasoned chicken is seared to perfection, then layered over rigatoni pasta coated in a rich garlic mozzarella cream sauce. Whether you’re looking for quick dinner ideas, an easy recipe to impress guests, or just a cozy pasta night, this one delivers it all. Think of it as your go-to for dinner ideas, cheesy food cravings, or a satisfying high-protein comfort meal that’s totally worth every bite.
Ingredients
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
10 oz rigatoni pasta
1 ½ tablespoons Cajun seasoning
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup heavy cream
½ cup low-sodium chicken broth
1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
1. Pat chicken breasts dry and season with Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper on both sides.
2. Heat butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken for 5–6 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Remove and let rest.
3. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook rigatoni according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
4. In the same skillet used for the chicken, reduce heat to medium. Add minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
5. Pour in the chicken broth, scraping up the browned bits from the skillet. Add heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer.
6. Gradually stir in mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses, stirring until smooth and creamy.
7. Add cooked rigatoni to the sauce and toss to coat evenly. Simmer for 1–2 minutes to let the flavors meld.
8. Slice the rested Cajun chicken and place on top of the pasta. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve hot.
Notes
For extra stretch and flavor, use freshly shredded mozzarella — pre-packaged tends to clump.
Don’t skip resting the chicken; it helps retain moisture and keeps every bite juicy.
If your sauce gets too thick, add a splash of reserved pasta water or more chicken broth.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American, Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ~1 ½ cups
- Calories: 725
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 970mg
- Fat: 39g
- Saturated Fat: 19g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 52g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 44g
- Cholesterol: 155mg
Keywords: creamy cajun chicken pasta, garlic mozzarella sauce, rigatoni dinner, quick weeknight pasta, spicy creamy chicken pasta