Chili's Cajun Alfredo Chicken Pasta
Spicy and creamy cajun alfredo sauce over penne noodles, topped with juicy, seasoned chicken – inspired by the popular Chili’s dish!
Servings:4 servings
Ingredients
- 8 ounces penne pasta
- 2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons cajun seasoning, divided (see note)
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 2 ½ cups milk , (I used fat free half and half)
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅓ cup shredded parmesan cheese
- 1 tomato, diced (see note)
- cilantro, roughly chopped
Instructions
- Cook penne noodles according to package's instructions. Drain and set aside.
- Slice chicken in half horizontally so that you have 4 thin pieces of chicken. Season chicken on both sides using 1 tablespoon of the Cajun seasoning. Cook in a greased pan or skillet over medium heat for 6-8 minutes on each side until cooked through.
- In a medium sauce pan melt butter over medium-high heat. Add flour and stir until mixture clumps together. Gradually whisk in milk until lumps dissolve and mixture is smooth. Add salt, pepper, garlic powder, and remaining cajun seasoning. Add cheese and stir until melted and incorporated into the sauce.
- Toss sauce with the cooked penne noodles. Slice chicken and place on top of pasta, then sprinkle with chopped tomatoes and cilantro.
Notes
For homemade cajun seasoning, stir together the following: 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1½ teaspoon paprika, and ½ teaspoon each black pepper, onion salt, cayenne pepper, oregano, and crushed red pepper flakes.
My husband actually hates tomatoes so I swapped his out for a diced red pepper and it was equally delicious.
Nutrition
Calories: 440 kcal, Carbohydrates: 57 g, Protein: 29 g, Fat: 10 g, Saturated Fat: 5 g, Trans Fat: 1 g, Cholesterol: 60 mg, Sodium: 274 mg, Potassium: 723 mg, Fiber: 4 g, Sugar: 11 g, Vitamin A: 2328 IU, Vitamin C: 5 mg, Calcium: 300 mg, Iron: 2 mg