Serves 4
30 min
Cajun Alfredo Skillet
Recipe GLPRd87aea751e73f7
A vibrant one-pan Cajun-spiced pasta dish combining tender chicken, smoky sausage, colorful peppers, and a creamy Alfredo sauce infused with Cajun seasonings. Quick to prepare and full of bold flavors, this skillet meal brings restaurant-quality comfort food to your table in under 30 minutes.
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Ingredients
0.25 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 tsp oil
0.25 lb smoked sausage, cut into bite-sized pieces
1 cup green bell pepper strips
1 cup red bell pepper strips
1 tbsp Cajun seasoning
2 tbsp butter
1 cup chicken broth
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp tomato paste
0.5 cup heavy cream
2.5 cups grated Parmesan cheese
8 oz pasta (such as fettuccine or penne)
Salt and black pepper to taste
Fresh parsley for garnish
Directions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook, stirring occasionally, until just shy of al dente (about 2 minutes less than package directions). Reserve about 1/2 cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta and set aside.
While the pasta cooks, heat the oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper, then add them to the skillet along with the sausage pieces. Cook, stirring occasionally and breaking up the chicken, until the chicken is cooked through (165°F internal temperature) and the sausage is lightly browned, about 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a clean plate.
In the same skillet over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon of butter. Add the green and red bell pepper strips and cook, stirring occasionally, until they begin to soften, about 4 to 5 minutes. Season lightly with salt and pepper, then push the peppers to the side of the skillet.
Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter to the cleared space in the skillet. Stir in the minced garlic and tomato paste, cooking for about 1 minute until fragrant. Add the Cajun seasoning and chicken broth, stirring well to combine and scrape up any browned bits from the pan bottom. Let this simmer for 1 minute.
Slowly whisk the heavy cream into the skillet, stirring constantly. Once combined, increase the heat to medium-high and bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and maintain a simmer. Gradually add the Parmesan cheese in a slow, steady stream while whisking constantly. Continue cooking and whisking for about 5 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly and becomes glossy and smooth.
Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss gently until all the noodles are coated with the creamy Alfredo sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water one tablespoon at a time, up to 1/2 cup total, until the sauce reaches the desired consistency.
Return the cooked chicken and sausage to the skillet and gently fold everything together. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed. Transfer to serving bowls or plates, garnish with fresh parsley and additional Parmesan cheese, and serve immediately.
