Description
The ultimate comfort food for those who love heat with their creamy pasta. Bold, hand-rubbed Cajun chicken meets a luxurious Mozzarella and Parmesan Alfredo. Rigatoni ridges catch every drop of the zesty, cheesy sauce for a perfectly balanced bite.
Ingredients
For the Cajun Chicken
- 2 large chicken breasts, 2 tbsp Cajun seasoning
- 1 tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp butter, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika, 1/4 tsp cayenne, salt/pepper, parsley
For the Pasta and Sauce
- 12 oz rigatoni, 2 tbsp butter, 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1.5 cups heavy cream, 1 cup whole milk
- 2 cups mozzarella (shredded), 1/2 cup Parmesan (grated)
- 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning, salt/pepper, pasta water
Instructions
Chicken: Season chicken with Cajun spices and aromatics. Sear in oil/butter for 4–5 mins per side until 165°F. Rest 5 mins before slicing.
Pasta: Boil rigatoni until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup starchy pasta water before draining.
Sauce: Melt butter and sauté garlic for 1 min. Add cream and milk; simmer 3–4 mins. Whisk in mozzarella and Parmesan until smooth. Season with Italian spices.
Combine: Add rigatoni to sauce. Use reserved pasta water to thin sauce to a velvety consistency as needed.
Serve: Top pasta with sliced Cajun chicken and fresh parsley.
Notes
Cheese Pull Secret: Using mozzarella in addition to Parmesan creates a stretchier, softer texture that coats the ridges of the rigatoni better than traditional Alfredo.
Liquid Gold: Starchy pasta water is a natural emulsifier; use it to fix a thick or separating sauce for a professional, glossy finish.
Rest the Meat: Slicing the chicken too soon causes the juices to run out. Wait at least 5 minutes to ensure the protein remains succulent.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Pan-Searing / Stovetop
- Cuisine: Cajun-Italian Fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 large bowl
- Calories: 745
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 1120
- Fat: 42
- Saturated Fat: 24
- Unsaturated Fat: 18
- Trans Fat: 1
- Carbohydrates: 48
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 44
- Cholesterol: 185
Keywords: spicy cajun chicken rigatoni, mozzarella alfredo recipe, cajun chicken pasta, creamy spicy rigatoni, easy weeknight pasta