Cajun Chicken Rotini with Mozzarella Alfredo Sauce
Cajun Chicken Rotini with Mozzarella Alfredo Sauce is a creamy, spicy pasta dish featuring tender, seasoned chicken breast and rotini pasta tossed in a rich mozzarella and Parmesan Alfredo sauce. Enhanced by bold Cajun spices, this comforting and flavorful meal is perfect for quick weeknight dinners or satisfying family gatherings.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Contains Dairy
Ingredients
Pasta
- Rotini Pasta – 12 oz
Protein
- Chicken Breast – 1 lb, cut into bite-sized pieces
Seasonings & Aromatics
- Cajun Seasoning – 2 tbsp
- Garlic – 2 cloves, minced
- Salt – to taste
- Black Pepper – to taste
Dairy & Fats
- Butter – 3 tbsp, divided
- Heavy Cream – 1 ½ cups
- Mozzarella Cheese – 1 ½ cups shredded (freshly shredded preferred)
- Parmesan Cheese – ¾ cup grated (freshly grated preferred)
Garnish
- Fresh Parsley – 2 tbsp, chopped
Instructions
- Prepare the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the rotini pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside, reserving one cup of pasta water.
- Season and Cook the Chicken: Toss chicken pieces evenly with Cajun seasoning. Heat 1 ½ tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat and cook chicken until golden brown and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove chicken from skillet and keep warm.
- Make the Mozzarella Alfredo Sauce: In the same skillet, add the remaining butter and sauté minced garlic until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Pour in heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer. Gradually whisk in shredded mozzarella and Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth. Season with salt and pepper, adding reserved pasta water as needed to reach desired sauce consistency.
- Combine Pasta, Chicken, and Sauce: Return cooked chicken to the skillet with the Alfredo sauce. Add drained rotini pasta and toss to coat evenly. Cook for an additional 2 minutes to meld flavors.
- Garnish and Serve: Turn off heat and sprinkle chopped fresh parsley on top. Serve immediately and enjoy.
Notes
- Use freshly shredded mozzarella and Parmesan cheese for a smoother sauce.
- Cook chicken just until no longer pink to keep it juicy.
- Simmer the cream sauce gently over low heat to prevent curdling.
- Reserve pasta cooking water to adjust sauce thickness as needed.
- Taste and gradually adjust Cajun seasoning to achieve preferred spice level.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1/4 of recipe)
- Calories: 550 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg
Keywords: Cajun chicken, rotini pasta, mozzarella Alfredo sauce, creamy pasta, spicy chicken pasta, weeknight dinner, comfort food
