Cajun Chicken and Shrimp Fettuccine
This Cajun Chicken and Shrimp Fettuccine is bursting with bold, creamy, and spicy flavor! A deliciously easy dish combining tender chicken, juicy shrimp, and fettuccine in a luscious Cajun cream sauce.
Equipment
- Large Pot
- Large skillet or sauté pan
- Sharp Knife
- Wooden Spoon or Spatula
- Colander
- Measuring cups and spoons
Ingredients
- 8 oz fettuccine pasta
- 1 lb chicken breast sliced
- 1 lb shrimp peeled and deveined
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion diced
- 1 bell pepper diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 2 tbsp Cajun seasoning
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2 green onions chopped for garnish
Instructions
Cook the Fettuccine
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 8 oz of fettuccine pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente, about 10-12 minutes. Drain the pasta and set aside, reserving about ½ cup of pasta water for later use.
Prepare the Chicken and Shrimp
- Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season sliced chicken breast with 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper. Cook chicken until golden and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove and set aside.
- Add shrimp to the same skillet, season lightly with salt, pepper, and remaining Cajun seasoning. Cook shrimp 2-3 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Remove and set aside with chicken.
Sauté the Vegetables
- Add remaining tablespoon of olive oil to skillet. Toss in diced onion and bell pepper. Sauté 3-4 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook 1 minute until fragrant.
Create the Creamy Cajun Sauce
- Pour in 1 cup chicken broth and bring to a gentle simmer, scraping browned bits from skillet bottom. Stir in 1 cup heavy cream and mix well. Let sauce simmer 3-4 minutes to thicken slightly.
Combine and Finish
- Return cooked chicken and shrimp to skillet, stirring to coat with sauce. Add cooked fettuccine noodles and toss until pasta is well coated. If sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water a splash at a time until desired consistency is reached.
Garnish and Serve
- Sprinkle chopped green onions over the top. Serve hot and enjoy the creamy, spicy, and savory flavors.
Notes
- Marinate the chicken in Cajun seasoning and lemon juice for 30 minutes to enhance flavor.
- Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency perfectly.
- Use fresh shrimp for best texture; thaw frozen shrimp thoroughly before use.
- For a lighter dish, substitute heavy cream with low-fat cream or coconut milk.
- Adjust spice level by varying the amount of Cajun seasoning or adding cayenne pepper.