Description
Creamy Cajun Shrimp and Chicken Pasta delivers a spicy Southern symphony of flavors dancing across your plate. Hearty protein, zesty seasonings, and rich sauce combine for a restaurant-quality meal that brings New Orleans charm straight to your kitchen.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 lb shrimp (peeled and deveined)
- 1 lb chicken breast (diced)
Pasta and Sauce:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) rotini pasta
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup milk
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Seasonings and Aromatics:
- 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
Garnish:
- Fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Bring a generously salted water bath to a rolling boil and immerse pasta, cooking until it reaches a tender al dente texture. Drain thoroughly and reserve.
- Liberally coat both shrimp and chicken with Cajun seasoning, ensuring complete flavor coverage.
- Warm olive oil in a spacious skillet over medium flame. Sear chicken pieces until they develop a golden-brown exterior and reach complete internal doneness, approximately 5-6 minutes. Transfer protein to a holding plate.
- Melt butter in the identical skillet, then introduce shrimp. Cook until shellfish transform into a vibrant pink and become translucent, roughly 2-3 minutes per surface. Remove and set aside.
- Reduce heat to a gentle simmer. Introduce minced garlic and sauté until aromatic, about 1-2 minutes. Incorporate cream, milk, Parmesan, cheddar, smoked paprika, and remaining Cajun seasoning. Whisk until sauce achieves a silky, uniform consistency.
- Reunite pasta, previously cooked chicken, and shrimp within the sauce-filled skillet. Gently toss until every element becomes luxuriously coated.
- Fine-tune seasoning with salt and red pepper flakes. Sprinkle freshly chopped parsley across the surface. Serve immediately while piping hot.
Notes
- Choose low-sodium Cajun seasoning to control salt intake and prevent overpowering flavors.
- For gluten-free option, swap regular pasta with zucchini noodles or gluten-free pasta alternatives.
- Keep protein proteins separate during cooking to maintain individual textures and prevent overcrowding in the skillet.
- Adjust cream-based sauce consistency by adding reserved pasta water if sauce becomes too thick during final mixing stage.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 573 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 620 mg
- Fat: 27 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 48 g
- Cholesterol: 155 mg