Description
Ready to shake up your dinner routine? These Maple Garlic Chicken Bites with Spicy Cajun Alfredo are everything a comforting yet bold meal should be. Sweet, sticky chicken bites meet a rich, spicy Alfredo pasta that feels indulgent but comes together easily—perfect for an easy recipe to impress your family or friends. This dish is a flavorful answer to your dinner ideas craving with just the right balance of heat, sweet, and creamy pasta goodness. Whether you’re after a quick dinner, healthy-ish meal prep, or just new food ideas, this crowd-pleaser hits all the notes.
Ingredients
1 lb ground chicken
2 tablespoons maple syrup
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
8 oz fettuccine or linguine
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
2 tablespoons chopped green onion
1/2 teaspoon chili flakes (optional)
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
1. In a large bowl, mix ground chicken, garlic, salt, pepper, and Cajun seasoning. Form into small bite-sized balls.
2. Heat a skillet with oil and cook chicken bites in batches until golden brown, about 6–8 minutes.
3. In the last 2 minutes, drizzle in maple syrup and toss to coat. Let the glaze bubble and stick.
4. Cook pasta in salted water until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water and drain.
5. In a skillet, melt butter and sauté garlic until fragrant. Add cream, Cajun seasoning, and Parmesan. Simmer until thickened.
6. Toss cooked pasta into the Alfredo sauce. Add reserved pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce.
7. Mix in green onions and chili flakes. Adjust salt or Cajun seasoning to taste.
8. Plate pasta with maple chicken bites. Garnish with parsley, green onions, and extra chili flakes if desired.
Notes
Use a mix of white and dark ground chicken for juicier bites.
Add bell peppers or spinach to the Alfredo for extra texture and nutrients.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 620
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 580mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 37g
- Cholesterol: 145mg