Creamy Cajun Chicken and Shrimp Pasta: 40-Minute Blissful Comfort
A comforting pasta dish with Cajun-spiced chicken, shrimp, bell peppers, and rotini in a creamy sauce, served with garlic bread.
Equipment
- skillet
- pot
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken breast, cut into bite-size chunks
- ½ lb raw shrimp, peeled & deveined
- 2 tbsp Cajun seasoning (divided)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 3 tbsp butter 2 tbsp for sauce, 1 tbsp for searing
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup chicken broth
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- 12 oz rotini pasta
- ½ red bell pepper, sliced
- ½ green bell pepper, sliced
- 1 cup fresh spinach
- 1 large breadstick or garlic loaf
Instructions
Instructions
- Boil rotini in salted water until al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain.
- Season chicken with half the Cajun seasoning. Heat olive oil + butter in a skillet over medium-high. Sear chicken until golden and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
- Season shrimp with remaining Cajun seasoning. In the same skillet, cook shrimp 1–2 minutes per side until pink. Remove and set aside.
- Lower heat. Melt butter, sauté garlic 30 seconds. Add cream, broth, Parmesan, paprika, and black pepper. Simmer until thick and glossy.
- Add pasta, chicken, shrimp, bell peppers, and spinach to the sauce. Toss gently until coated. Add pasta water if needed for silkiness.
- Brush breadstick with butter, sprinkle parsley, bake or air-fry until golden.
- Plate the pasta, add the breadstick, and serve hot.