Description
This Creamy Garlic & Tomato Chicken Pasta perfectly balances smoky Cajun-seasoned chicken with a velvety, herb-infused cream sauce. It features fresh spinach and cherry tomatoes for color and nutrition, all prepared in a single skillet to capture every drop of savory flavor.
Ingredients
The Cajun Chicken
- 2 chicken breasts, butterflied
- Cajun seasoning, for coating
- Oil, for frying
The Pasta & Sauce
- 4 1/2 oz pasta (approx. 1 1/2 cups dry)
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2/3 cup chicken stock
- 3 tablespoons reduced-fat crème fraîche
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
- Herbs: 2 tsp Italian seasoning, salt/pepper to taste
The Fresh Finish
- 6 cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 generous handful fresh spinach
Instructions
Pasta: Boil pasta until al dente. Reserve 2–3 tbsp pasta water, then drain.
Chicken: Season butterflied chicken with Cajun spices. Fry in a skillet for 4–5 mins per side until golden. Rest for 3 mins, then slice.
Aromatics: Sauté onion for 3–4 mins in the same pan, then add garlic for 30 seconds.
Sauce: Stir in Italian seasoning, stock, crème fraîche, and milk. Simmer for 3–5 mins until thickened.
Finish: Add tomatoes and spinach; cook until wilted. Stir in Parmesan. Toss with pasta and reserved water until silky. Top with sliced chicken.
Notes
Butterfly for Success: Slicing chicken horizontally ensures it cooks quickly and evenly within the 30-minute window.
Liquid Gold: Starchy pasta water is the secret emulsifier that binds the dairy and cheese into a cohesive sauce.
Dairy Stability: Crème fraîche is heat-stable due to its high fat content, but a gentle simmer is still better than a hard boil to maintain texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Skillet / Stovetop
- Cuisine: Fusion (Cajun-Italian)
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Large Bowl
- Calories: 490
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 820mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 44g
- Cholesterol: 115mg
Keywords: creamy cajun chicken pasta, garlic tomato pasta, 30 minute dinners, crème fraîche pasta sauce, healthy chicken pasta, cajun seasoned chicken breast, one skillet pasta sauce