Description
Creamy Jalapeño Garlic Chicken Bites with Twisted Cheddar Cajun Pasta is a bold and creamy dinner recipe packed with seared garlic chicken, spicy jalapeños, and cheesy Cajun rotini. Perfect for spicy pasta lovers and quick family meals.
Ingredients
1 pound boneless chicken breast or thighs
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 fresh jalapeños, sliced
12 ounces rotini pasta
1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon chopped parsley (optional)
Instructions
1. Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces and season with Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper.
2. Heat olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a skillet, sear chicken until golden brown and fully cooked. Remove and set aside.
3. In the same skillet, add remaining butter, garlic, and jalapeños. Sauté until fragrant.
4. In a saucepan, combine heavy cream, cheddar cheese, Cajun seasoning, and a pinch of salt. Stir over medium heat until smooth and thickened.
5. Cook rotini in salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve a cup of pasta water, then drain.
6. Toss cooked pasta with garlic-jalapeño mixture and pour over the cheese sauce. Stir well.
7. If the sauce is too thick, loosen with a bit of pasta water.
8. Add chicken back into the skillet and stir everything together.
9. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve hot.
Notes
Let the cheese melt slowly in the sauce to avoid graininess.
Use gloves when slicing jalapeños to avoid skin irritation.
For extra creaminess, stir in an extra splash of cream when reheating leftovers.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 635
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 33g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 49g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 37g
- Cholesterol: 140mg