Description
Succulent Cajun shrimp and chicken dance together in this mouthwatering pasta masterpiece, promising Southern comfort with bold spices and rich flavors. Creamy sauce and perfectly seasoned proteins guarantee a restaurant-quality meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 pound chicken breast, diced
- 1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
Pasta and Spices:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) rotini pasta
- 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Dairy and Sauce Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup milk
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Garnish:
- Fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Boil pasta in generously salted water until perfectly tender, approximately 8-10 minutes. Drain thoroughly and reserve.
- Liberally coat chicken and shrimp with Cajun seasoning, ensuring complete coverage.
- Sear chicken in hot olive oil over medium-high heat until golden and cooked through, roughly 5-6 minutes. Transfer to separate plate.
- Without cleaning skillet, quickly sauté shrimp until they transform to vibrant pink and become translucent, about 2-3 minutes per side. Remove and set aside.
- Reduce skillet temperature to medium-low, introducing minced garlic and allowing aromatics to develop for 1-2 minutes.
- Create luxurious sauce by whisking together heavy cream, milk, Parmesan, cheddar, smoked paprika, and remaining Cajun seasoning until silky and uniform.
- Reunite pasta, chicken, and shrimp within sauce, gently folding to ensure comprehensive coating.
- Fine-tune flavor profile with additional salt and red pepper flakes according to personal preference.
- Sprinkle freshly chopped parsley across dish for bright, herbaceous finish. Serve immediately while sauce remains warm and inviting.
Notes
- Adjust Cajun seasoning levels to match personal heat tolerance, starting with less and gradually adding more for perfect flavor balance.
- Easily swap shrimp or chicken with tofu, turkey, or plant-based alternatives for dietary preferences or restrictions.
- Experiment with different cheese combinations like gouda or fontina for unique flavor profiles and added depth to the creamy sauce.
- Toast the Cajun seasoning briefly in the pan before adding proteins to intensify the spice and develop a more complex taste.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 533 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 480 mg
- Fat: 27 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 47 g
- Cholesterol: 210 mg