Cajun Blackened Chicken Alfredo

5 from 9 votes

Cajun Blackened Chicken Alfredo

Craving a hearty and flavorful dish that packs a punch? Look no further than Cajun Blackened Chicken Alfredo! This unique recipe combines the creamy richness of traditional Alfredo sauce with the bold spices of Cajun cuisine, creating a truly unforgettable dining experience.

Prep Time10

Cook Time20

Total Time30

Course: Dinner, Main Course, Mardi Gras

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Calories: 787kcal

Author: Susan Ensley

Equipment

5-qt Le Creuset Braiser or large skillet with lid
Silicone Whisk
Silicone Tongs
Large Pot
colander
Ladle
2-cup Pyrex measuring cup

Ingredients

Cajun Seasoning Blend

2 tbs Smoked Paprika (regular works as well)
1 tbs Cayenne Pepper
1 tbs Onion Powder
2 tsp Garlic Powder
1 tsp Black Pepper, freshly ground
1 tsp Kosher Salt
1 tsp Dried Oregano
1 tsp Dried Thyme

Cajun Blackened Chicken Alfredo

1 lb Fettuccine
2 lbs Boneless & Skinless Chicken Breasts (eight 4-oz pieces)
4 tbs Olive Oil, divided
6 tbs Unsalted Butter, divided
6-8 Garlic Cloves, minced
2 c Heavy Whipping Cream
6 oz Parmesan Cheese, freshly grated
6 tbs Cajun Blackened Seasoning (from above), divided

Instructions

Cajun Seasoning Blend

Preheat oven to 170° or warm.
Place the cayenne pepper, onion powder, smoked paprika, black pepper, kosher salt, garlic powder, oregano, and thyme in a small bowl. Then, using a small whisk, or a fork, combine all of the spices together.

Cajun Blackened Chicken Alfredo

Dry the chicken breasts with paper towels and place them in a large bowl. Pour two tablespoons of olive oil over the chicken. Then, using tongs, stir the breasts around to coat them completely with the oil.
Next, add three tablespoons of the Cajun seasoning blend. Then, using the tongs, stir the breasts around to coat them completely in the Cajun seasonings.
Heat a large deep skillet or Dutch oven¹, with a lid, to medium heat and add two tablespoons of olive oil.
Then, add the seasoned chicken breasts to the hot oil, cover them, and cook for 3-4 minutes (or until they have a dark blackened coloring on the underside). Make sure to keep an eye on the chicken, it can go from blackened to burnt very quickly.²
Flip the chicken just once and reduce the heat to low. Add two tablespoons of unsalted butter to the pan, along with a tablespoon of minced garlic. Place the lid on the pan and cook for an additional 5-6 minutes, allowing the garlic butter to melt into the chicken as it finishes cooking. Make sure the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F.
Remove the chicken from the pan, place on an oven-proof plate with another plate inverted on top. Then, place the plate with the chicken in the preheated oven to keep warm.
Add the remaining four tablespoons of butter in the same pan you cooked the chicken and increase the heat to medium. The bottom of your pan might look burnt, but don't worry; all those bits will become incorporated into the sauce while it cooks. Once the butter has melted, add the rest of the minced garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes or until fragrant.
Next, add the heavy whipping cream and the rest of the Cajun seasoning blend. Then, using a silicone whisk, stir the spices into the cream to begin making the sauce. Make sure you scrape the bottom of the pan as you're stirring to incorporate the blackened bits from the bottom of the pan. Whisk the sauce occasionally, for about five minutes, until it thickens and begins to bubble.
In the meantime, cook the fettuccine according to the package directions, minus one minute from al dente. Right before the pasta is done, use a ladle to reserve about two cups of the pasta water into a pyrex measuring cup. Drain the pasta in a colander set in your sink.
Grate the parmesan cheese and add it to the Alfredo sauce in batches. Whisk the cheese into the Alfredo sauce after each addition, until it has all melted and been incorporated into the sauce.
Add about ½ to ¾ cup of the reserved pasta water to the sauce³. Whisk the sauce until all the water has been incorporated and the sauce is smooth and creamy.
Add the cooked fettuccine and stir the pasta into the sauce until all of the noodles are coated in the sauce. Use a pair of tongs to toss the fettuccine with the sauce to combine.
Remove the chicken breasts from the oven and cut them into ¼-inch slices. To serve, place the sliced breasts on top of a bed of the Cajun Blackened Fettuccine Alfredo.
Yield 8 servings.

Notes

I used a 5-quart Le Creuset Braiser, which was the perfect size.
The chicken may look "burned," but it's not; it's actually blackened.
If you anticipate having leftovers, refrigerate the remaining reserved pasta water to use when reheating the leftover pasta. If there is no leftover pasta, you can discard the remaining water.

Nutrition