Cajun Chicken Alfredo (Print Version)
# Ingredients:
→ Main Ingredients
01 -
1.5 cups of parmesan cheese, shredded
02 -
6-8 garlic cloves, finely chopped
03 -
4 tablespoons of olive oil
04 -
6 tablespoons butter
05 -
2 cups heavy cream
06 -
3 chicken breasts
07 -
Salt and pepper, as needed
08 -
4 tablespoons of blackened spice, split
09 -
1 lb. of mafaldine noodles (or swap with linguini or fettuccini)
→ Blackened Seasoning
10 -
1 teaspoon of black pepper, ground
11 -
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
12 -
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
13 -
1 tablespoon of cayenne pepper
14 -
1 teaspoon salt
15 -
2 teaspoons garlic powder
16 -
2 tablespoons of smoked paprika
17 -
1 tablespoon onion powder
# Instructions:
01 -
Even out the chicken so it’s about 1/4 inch thick. Cover completely in oil and coat well with the seasoning blend (about 2-3 tablespoons).
02 -
Get your pan super hot over medium-high heat. Add in 2 tablespoons of olive oil and cook the chicken for 3-4 minutes until the bottom is a rich amber color.
03 -
Flip each piece once, dial back the heat to low. Throw in 2 tablespoons butter and 2 teaspoons of minced garlic, letting it melt and soak into the chicken while it cooks for another 5-6 minutes (internal temp should hit 165°F).
04 -
Move the chicken to a plate and loosely cover it with foil so it stays warm while resting before slicing.
05 -
Using the same skillet, lower the flame to medium and toss in the rest of the butter to melt. Add in leftover minced garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes till you get a garlicky aroma.
06 -
Pour in the heavy cream with about 2-3 teaspoons of the blackened mix. Let it bubble gently and thicken, stirring occasionally for roughly 5 minutes.
07 -
While your sauce thickens, boil the noodles until they’re just cooked (al dente). Save 1/3 cup of the pasta water before draining.
08 -
Toss the parmesan into the cream mixture and mix till smooth and melted. Give it a taste and tweak any seasonings.
09 -
Pour in the reserved pasta water and mix it into the alfredo. Toss the cooked noodles with the sauce to coat, then plate with chicken on top and sprinkle on some extra seasoning before digging in!
# Notes:
01 -
Serve alongside toasted garlic bread or Texas toast.
02 -
Swap in plain paprika if you don’t have smoked on hand.
03 -
Use fettuccini or linguini as excellent substitutes for mafaldine.