Description
Turn up the flavor and the fun with this Cheesy Cajun Garlic Chicken Rotini Skillet! It’s a one-pan wonder packed with tender chicken, bold Cajun spice, garlicky goodness, and twirly rotini pasta—all smothered in creamy, melty cheese. Perfect for busy weeknights when you want comfort food that doesn’t skimp on flavor. Ready in under 30 minutes and guaranteed to disappear fast! #CajunChickenPasta #SkilletMeals #EasyWeeknightDinner
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, diced
- 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning (plus extra to taste)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
For the Pasta Skillet
- 8 oz rotini pasta (about 2 1/2 cups dry)
- 1 tbsp butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream (or half and half)
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Cook rotini pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Toss chicken with Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper, then cook until browned and cooked through, about 6–8 minutes. Remove and set aside.
- In the same skillet, melt butter and sauté garlic until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Pour in chicken broth and heavy cream. Stir to combine and bring to a gentle simmer.
- Stir in cooked pasta, mozzarella, and Parmesan. Mix until cheese melts and sauce thickens, 2–3 minutes.
- Return the cooked chicken to the skillet and stir to coat in the creamy sauce. Taste and add extra Cajun seasoning or red pepper flakes if desired.
- Garnish with chopped parsley and serve hot!
Notes
- Substitute rotini with penne or shells if you prefer.
- For a lighter version, use half-and-half instead of heavy cream and reduced-fat cheese.
- Add sautéed bell peppers or spinach for extra color and veggies.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Cajun-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 620
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 34g
- Saturated Fat: 17g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 46g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 135mg
Keywords: cheesy cajun garlic chicken, rotini skillet, one pan pasta, cajun chicken pasta, weeknight dinner, easy skillet meals