Description

Turn weeknight dinner into a craveable, restaurant-style pasta in under 40 minutes. This Creamy Cajun Chicken Rigatoni layers tender, spice-rubbed chicken with al dente rigatoni and a velvety garlic–mozzarella cream sauce that clings to every ridge. It’s the perfect balance of smoky heat and silky richness—comfort food that still feels special. Great for busy nights, date-night in, or when you want crowd-pleasing easy dinner results without fuss. Ideal for weeknight pasta, quick dinner, and easy recipe searches—add it to your go-to list for dinner ideas, food ideas, and even next-day lunch.

Ingredients

12 oz rigatoni

1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts

2 tbsp Cajun seasoning

2 tbsp olive oil

2 tbsp unsalted butter

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 cup low-sodium chicken broth

1 1/4 cups heavy cream

1 1/2 cups low-moisture mozzarella, shredded

1/2 cup Parmesan, freshly grated

1 tsp kosher salt, or to taste

1/2 tsp black pepper

1/4 tsp red pepper flakes, optional

1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

1 tsp lemon juice, optional

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Instructions

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook rigatoni until al dente; reserve 1 cup pasta water, drain, and set aside.

2. Pat chicken dry. Rub all over with Cajun seasoning.

3. Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high. Sear chicken 4–5 minutes per side until golden and cooked through (165°F). Rest 5 minutes, then slice.

4. In the same skillet, lower heat to medium and sauté garlic 30 seconds until fragrant.

5. Pour in chicken broth; simmer 1 minute, scraping browned bits. Stir in heavy cream; bring to a gentle simmer.

6. Whisk in mozzarella and Parmesan until smooth. Season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.

7. Toss in rigatoni; add splashes of reserved pasta water until sauce is glossy and clings to pasta.

8. Fold in sliced chicken. Finish with parsley and lemon juice. Serve hot.

Notes

For extra creaminess without heaviness, thin the sauce with reserved pasta water instead of more cream.

Spice level is flexible—use a mild Cajun blend or reduce red pepper flakes for a kid-friendly version.

Prep Time: 10
Cook Time: 25
Category: Dinner, Pasta
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1.5 cups
Calories: 880
Sugar: 5
Sodium: 1200
Fat: 48
Saturated Fat: 24
Unsaturated Fat: 20
Trans Fat: 0
Carbohydrates: 65
Fiber: 3
Protein: 46
Cholesterol: 185