Description
Creamy Parmesan Rotini with Cajun Garlic Butter Chicken is a cozy, crowd-pleasing pasta: tender rotini swirled in a silky Parmesan cream sauce, topped with juicy Cajun-spiced chicken seared in garlicky butter. It’s rich, a little spicy, and ready in about 40 minutes—perfect for weeknights or a comforting weekend dinner.
Ingredients
12 oz rotini pasta
1 1/2 lb boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 1/2 tbsp Cajun seasoning
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 tbsp olive oil
3 tbsp unsalted butter
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1 1/4 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup reserved pasta water, as needed
2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook rotini until al dente; reserve 1/2 cup pasta water and drain.
2. Pat chicken dry, then toss with Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper.
3. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and sear chicken in a single layer until browned and cooked through; transfer to a plate.
4. Reduce heat to medium, add butter to the same skillet, then stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30-60 seconds.
5. Pour in heavy cream; when steaming, whisk in Parmesan gradually until smooth.
6. Add drained rotini and toss, loosening the sauce with splashes of reserved pasta water as needed.
7. Return chicken and any juices to the skillet; stir to coat and heat through.
8. Finish with parsley, taste and adjust seasoning, then serve immediately.
Notes
Grate the Parmesan yourself so it melts smoothly and prevents grainy sauce.
Sear the chicken in batches if needed to avoid steaming and to keep the Cajun crust crisp.
If you prefer more heat, add a pinch of cayenne or extra Cajun seasoning when finishing the sauce.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Pasta
- Method: Stovetop, Skillet
- Cuisine: American, Cajun-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate (1/4 recipe)
- Calories: 920
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 980 mg
- Fat: 48 g
- Saturated Fat: 26 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 66 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 50 g
- Cholesterol: 195 mg
Keywords: creamy parmesan, cajun chicken, garlic butter pasta, rotini