Description
Creamy, spicy, garlicky, and ultra-satisfying — this Garlic Butter Chicken Bites & Spicy Cajun Alfredo Twisted Pasta recipe is everything you love about comfort food in one skillet. Perfect for a quick dinner, this easy recipe combines juicy chicken tossed in garlic butter with rich Cajun Alfredo sauce that coats every spiral of pasta. It’s bold, flavorful, and restaurant-worthy, yet simple enough for weeknights. Whether you’re looking for easy dinner ideas, a cozy pasta dish, or a spicy twist on Alfredo, this one hits all the right notes.
Ingredients
2 large chicken breasts, diced
3 tablespoons butter (divided)
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning (plus more to taste)
1 cup heavy cream
¾ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
10 oz twisted pasta (like rotini or fusilli)
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
1. Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces and pat dry. Season with salt, pepper, and Cajun seasoning.
2. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a skillet over medium-high heat.
3. Add chicken in batches and sear until golden and cooked through, about 3–4 minutes per side. Remove and set aside.
4. In the same skillet, reduce heat and add 1 tablespoon butter and minced garlic. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
5. Return chicken to the skillet and toss in garlic butter to coat. Remove from heat and set aside.
6. Boil pasta in salted water until al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain pasta.
7. In another pan, melt remaining 1 tablespoon butter. Add heavy cream and Cajun seasoning. Simmer for 3–5 minutes.
8. Stir in Parmesan until melted and smooth. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.
9. Add pasta to sauce and toss. Add a splash of pasta water if needed to loosen.
10. Serve pasta with garlic butter chicken on top. Garnish with parsley and red pepper flakes, if desired.
Notes
Make sure to sear chicken in batches for a better crust and even cooking.
Use freshly grated Parmesan for the smoothest, creamiest Alfredo sauce.
If the sauce thickens too much, pasta water will bring it right back to life without thinning the flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American, Cajun-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate (¼ recipe)
- Calories: 670
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 38g
- Saturated Fat: 20g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 155mg
Keywords: easy dinner, pasta recipe, creamy chicken pasta, garlic butter chicken, Cajun Alfredo pasta