Description
Creamy Jalapeño Garlic Chicken Bites with Twisted Cheddar Cajun Pasta is a flavor-packed comfort dish featuring tender chicken bites seared in Cajun seasoning, paired with spiraled pasta coated in a rich jalapeño-garlic cheddar cream sauce. It’s bold, creamy, and has just the right amount of spice for a weeknight or special dinner.
Ingredients
2 chicken breasts, boneless and skinless
12 oz rotini pasta
2 fresh jalapeños, diced (seeds removed for less heat)
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup heavy cream
2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning (plus extra to taste)
2 tablespoons olive oil
½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
¼ teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
1. Pat chicken breasts dry, cut into bite-sized pieces, and season with Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper.
2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken pieces and cook for 5–6 minutes until golden brown. Remove from skillet and set aside.
3. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add rotini pasta and cook until al dente. Drain and set aside.
4. In a medium saucepan, heat a drizzle of olive oil. Add garlic and jalapeños, sauté for 1–2 minutes until fragrant.
5. Pour in heavy cream, whisk in cheddar cheese gradually until smooth. Season with extra Cajun seasoning to taste.
6. Toss pasta into sauce until coated evenly. Plate pasta and top with chicken bites.
7. Garnish with parsley and serve immediately.
Notes
For extra creaminess, stir in 2 oz cream cheese with the cheddar.
Adjust spice by controlling jalapeño seeds and Cajun seasoning.
Add a splash of milk when reheating leftovers to keep sauce silky.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Cajun Fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 590
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 36g
- Cholesterol: 130mg
Keywords: Cajun pasta, jalapeño chicken, cheddar pasta, creamy garlic pasta