Description
A rich, creamy comfort food dish featuring crispy, spice-packed blackened chicken served over velvety pasta smothered in decadent Alfredo sauce. This restaurant-quality meal can be prepared in just 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley (optional)
- 8 oz fettuccine pasta
Instructions
- Season chicken breasts with paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, thyme, salt, and pepper
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat
- Cook chicken for 4-5 minutes per side until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F
- Remove chicken and set aside to rest
- Bring salted water to boil and cook fettuccine according to package instructions until al dente
- Drain pasta, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water
- In same skillet, melt butter over medium heat
- Add minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant
- Slowly pour in heavy cream, stirring constantly
- Bring to simmer and cook 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened
- Mix in Parmesan cheese, stirring until melted and smooth
- Season sauce with salt and pepper
- Add cooked pasta to sauce and toss to coat
- Slice blackened chicken into strips
- Plate pasta, top with chicken slices, and garnish with parsley
Notes
- Let chicken rest after cooking to retain juices and keep it tender
- Adjust cayenne pepper to taste preference for spice level
- For richer sauce, add cream cheese for extra thickness and tanginess
- Use half-and-half instead of heavy cream for a lighter version
- Don’t wipe out skillet after cooking chicken – the flavorful bits enhance the sauce
- Add reserved pasta water if sauce becomes too thick
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 850mg
- Fat: 45g
- Saturated Fat: 25g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 135mg
Keywords: blackened chicken, alfredo, pasta, cajun, italian, quick dinner, 30 minute meal, comfort food, creamy sauce, spicy chicken