Here’s a restaurant-style Cajun Garlic Butter Chicken Penne in Creamy Parmesan Sauce—rich, spicy, creamy, and ready in under 40 minutes 🍝🔥
Perfect for family dinners or special meals.
🍝 Cajun Garlic Butter Chicken Penne in Creamy Parmesan Sauce
⏱ Time
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Prep: 15 minutes
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Cook: 25 minutes
🍽 Servings
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4 servings
🧾 Ingredients
Pasta
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350 g penne pasta
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Water & salt for boiling
Chicken
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500 g boneless chicken breast, sliced
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1½ tbsp Cajun seasoning
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½ tsp paprika
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½ tsp black pepper
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Salt to taste
Garlic Butter Sauce
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2 tbsp olive oil
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3 tbsp unsalted butter
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6 cloves garlic, minced
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1 cup cooking cream or heavy cream
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½ cup milk
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1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
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½ tsp red chili flakes (optional)
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½ tsp Italian seasoning
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Salt to taste
Garnish (Optional)
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Fresh parsley, chopped
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Extra Parmesan cheese
👩🍳 Directions (Step-by-Step)
Step 1: Cook the Pasta
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Boil penne in salted water until al dente.
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Reserve ½ cup pasta water.
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Drain and set aside.
Step 2: Season & Cook Chicken
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Toss chicken with Cajun seasoning, paprika, pepper, and salt.
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Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
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Cook chicken 4–5 minutes per side until golden and cooked through.
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Remove chicken and set aside.
Step 3: Garlic Butter Base
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In the same pan, lower heat to medium.
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Add butter.
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Add garlic and sauté 30 seconds until fragrant.
Step 4: Make Creamy Parmesan Sauce
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Pour in cream and milk.
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Add Italian seasoning and chili flakes.
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Simmer gently for 3–4 minutes.
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Stir in Parmesan cheese until smooth and creamy.
👉 If sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water.
Step 5: Combine Everything
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Add cooked chicken back into sauce.
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Add penne pasta.
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Toss until pasta is fully coated.
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Simmer 2 minutes to blend flavors.
Step 6: Serve
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Taste and adjust seasoning.
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Garnish with parsley and extra Parmesan.
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Serve hot.
⭐ Pro Tips
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Use freshly grated Parmesan for smooth sauce
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Don’t overcook garlic—it turns bitter
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Cajun seasoning already has salt, so adjust carefully
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Let sauce simmer gently, not boil
🔁 Variations
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Extra spicy: Add more Cajun or hot sauce
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Veggie version: Add bell peppers, mushrooms, or spinach
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Shrimp instead of chicken
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Lighter sauce: Use half-and-half instead of cream
🧊 Storage
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Refrigerator: up to 3 days
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Reheat gently with splash of milk
🥗 Approx Nutrition (Per Serving)
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Calories: ~560
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Fat: 32 g
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Carbs: 45 g
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Protein: 32 g