Cajun Chicken Pasta
This Cajun Chicken Pasta is a perfect mix of spicy and creamy. Blackened chicken makes this pasta recipe really stand out and will become one of your go-to comfort foods!
Oh, hello spicy. Nice to see you. There was a time that I didn’t hold such an affinity for you, and that makes me sad. Thankfully I am back to your side. Especially after enjoying a big plate of pasta, creamy sauce, crunchy peppers, and so much spicy goodness. This recipe for Cajun Chicken Pasta is ready to put the spice back into life.
What beer pairs well with Cajun Pasta with Chicken?
The beer: Amber from Abita.
With spicy you don’t want overwhelming. Spicy chicken plus spicy sauce PLUS carbs…you want something that isn’t trying to fight with all the goodness of this dish so a pale ale like
What TV series pairs well with a spicy pasta dish?
Since in our house anything featuring Danny McBride cannot be missed, Righteous Gemstones is where it’s at this Mitten Movie Night
How to make Cajun Chicken Pasta:
I REALLY think that the key to this easy pasta recipe is the blackened chicken. Sprinkle the chicken with lots of Cajun seasoning then cooking it until crispy on the outside but juicy on the outside. That is what makes it meld so perfectly with this creamy pasta.
To achieve blackened chicken perfection it’s all about coating, frying, then taking it off at just the right moment. See the below example: I hate to brag, but yeah, that’s how you do it.
First, cut the chicken breasts in half. I try to cut mine to about 2-3 inches in the middle, no more. I want these to cook quick and stay juicy. The thicker they are, the longer they take to cook.
Sprinkle each side with 1 Tbs Cajun Seasoning.
To a shallow rimmed pan add oil. Let the pan heat up then place the chicken in the pan. Cook 4-5 minutes then flip. Cook 4-5 additional minutes depending on the thickness of the cut. *Make a cut in the thickest part of the chicken breast to make sure that it has cooked through. If not, return to the pan and cook 1-2 minutes per side.
While the chicken is cooking, add the fettucini to a pot and boil according to package directions. Drain and reserve 1/4 cup of the pasta water for the sauce.
Next, chop the red and green peppers, onions and mince the garlic.
Once the chicken has cooked, remove and place on a cutting board. Slice the chicken.
In the same pan that you cooked the chicken, leaving the heat on medium, add 1 Tbs butter and let melt. Once the butter is melted add the sliced peppers, onions, and garlic and sautee. Cook for 5 minutes to soften but allowing them to still stay crunchy.
Add the flour, stirring the ingredients together, then slowly add 1/4 cup reserved water* from the fettucini. *I have found that using the pasta water when making a cream sauce stretches the sauce out without making it clumpy.
Next, add the heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, and 1 Tbs Cajun seasoning.
Finally to the pan, add the drained cooked pasta. Top with the reserved green onions and jalapenos.
Like adding jalapenos to food? Try these recipes that are better with the spicy stuff on top:
I like to use tongs to combine everything together and then to serve. And here you are……
From our home in the Bottom Left of the Mitten to yours ~ Enjoy!
*Affiliate links are included in this post. Please read my Discloser Policy.
| Prep Time | 10 minutes |
| Cook Time | 20 minutes |
| Servings |
servings
|
- 4 ounces fettucini pasta Cooked according ot package directions. Reserve 1/4 cup of the water.
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut in half
- 2 Tbs avocado oil or vegetable oil
- 3 Tbs Cajun Seasoning
- 1 Tbs butter
- 1 medium green pepper cleaned, core removed and sliced
- 1 medium red pepper cleaned, core removed and sliced
- 2 stalks green onions chop white part for sautee. Save green parts for topping.
- 2 garlic cloves, minced minced
- 1/2 pint heavy whipping cream
- 1 Tbs flour
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
Ingredients
|
|
- Cut the chicken breasts in half.
- Sprinkle each side with 1 Tbs Cajun Seasoning.
- To a shallow rimmed pan add oil. Let the pan heat up then place the chicken in the pan. Cook 4-5 minutes then flip. Cook 4-5 additional minutes depending on the thickness of the cut.
- While the chicken is cooking, add the fettucini to a pot and boil according to package directions. Drain and reserve 1/4 cup of the pasta water for the sauce.
- Next, chop the red and green peppers, onions and mince the garlic.
- Once the chicken has cooked, remove and place on a cutting board. Slice the chicken.
- In the same pan that you cooked the chicken, leaving the heat on medium, add 1 Tbs butter and let melt. Once the butter is melted add the sliced peppers, onions, and garlic and sautee. Cook for 5 minutes.
- Add the flour, stirring the ingredients together, then slowly add 1/4 cup reserved water from the fettucini.
- Next, add the heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, and 1 Tbs Cajun seasoning.
- Finally to the pan, add the drained cooked pasta.
- Top with the reserved green onions and jalapenos. Enjoy!
Buffalo Ranch Chicken Tacos
These Buffalo Ranch Chicken Tacos are so full of flavor you won’t go back to boring tacos again! Topped with homemade pico de gallo and a buffalo ranch sauce makes these the ultimate for taco night.
I’ve got something spicy on deck for this Mitten Movie Night! These Buffalo Ranch Chicken Tacos are full of so much flavor. Soft tortillas filled with chicken, pico de gallo, cheese and finally topped with a buffalo ranch sauce that you will be putting on everything once you try it.
What beer pairs well with Buffalo Ranch Chicken Tacos?
The beer: Summer Love Ale from Victory Brewing Company
Can you believe that this Summer is half over? Where did the time go? What seems really odd is that we haven’t even been busy this summer. So in order to celebrate the mid-summer slump let’s pair these fresh tacos with this perfect fruity compliment to the bite of the buffalo sauce and the jalapeno in the pico de gallo.
What movie pairs well with chicken tacos topped with buffalo ranch and Pico de gallo?
For tonight’s movie, I recommend ‘How It Ends’. I am a big fan of post-apocalyptic movies and this one was right up my alley. Check out Netflix to find this title. So now on to these buffalo ranch chicken tacos!
How to make Buffalo Ranch Chicken Tacos:
Start by cutting each chicken breast in half to thin these out a bit. Then cover with plastic wrap and use a mallet to beat the chicken down to about 1/2″ thick.
Heat the oil in a pan then sprinkle the creole seasoning over each side of the chicken. Place the chicken into the pan and cook each side 4-6 minutes. Placing the seasoning on the chicken make it look almost ‘blackened‘.
Once the chicken has cooked all the way through remove from the pan and cube.
How to make an easy Pico De Gallo:
You can hand chop all the vegetables and then mix them with the lime, cilantro, and cumin or you can save so much time by using a food processor. It does make it a little watery from the tomatoes so what I do it strain in a mesh strainer over a bowl. Saves so much time and tastes just as delicious.
How to make Buffalo Ranch Sauce:
In a bowl combine the buffalo sauce and ranch dressing. This sauce is the key to making this chicken taco recipe the BEST!
For the flour tortillas, I love to cook them over the open flame on my stove. You can, of course, skip this step if you like and just cover 8 tortillas with a warm, wet paper towel and microwave for 25 seconds.
Now fill the shells with chicken, cheese, pico de gallo then drizzle with buffalo ranch sauce.
Serve with Double Batch Smashed Beans and here you are…..
From our home in the Bottom Left of the Mitten to yours ~ Enjoy!
Originally published in July of 2018. Updated post in April of 2019.
*Affiliate links are included in this post. Please read my Discloser Policy.
| Prep Time | 5 minutes |
| Cook Time | 10 minutes |
| Servings |
tacos
|
Ingredients
- 8 flour tortillas, fajita size
- 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts pounded thin
- 2 Tbs creole seasoning
- 2 Tbs avocado oil or vegetable oil
- 1 cup mexican blend shredded cheese
- 1/2 cup buffalo sauce
- 1/2 cup ranch dressing
Ingredients
Chicken for tacos
Buffalo Ranch
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|
Instructions
-
Start by cutting each chicken breast in half to thin these out a bit. Then cover with plastic wrap and use a mallet to beat the chicken down to about 1/2" thick.
-
Heat the oil in a pan then sprinkle the creole seasoning over each side of the chicken. Place the chicken into the pan and cook each side 4-6 minutes. Placing the seasoning on the chicken make it look almost 'blackened'.
-
Once the chicken has cooked all the way through remove from the pan and cube.
-
You can hand chop all the vegetables and then mix them with the lime, cilantro, and cumin or you can save so much time by using a food processor. *If you make this in the food processor: Strain in a mesh strainer over a bowl.
-
In a bowl combine the buffalo sauce and ranch dressing.
-
Fill the tortilla shells with chicken, cheese, pico de gallo then drizzle with buffalo ranch sauce. Enjoy!
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