Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 4
🛒 Ingredients
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
2 links smoked sausage, sliced
12 oz penne pasta (or your preferred pasta)
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp Cajun seasoning
1 tsp garlic powder
½ tsp smoked paprika
Salt & pepper, to taste
1 cup heavy cream
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
½ cup chicken broth
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp butter
Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
👩🍳 Instructions
Cook the Pasta:
Bring salted water to a boil and cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain, reserving 1 cup of pasta water, and set aside.Season and Cook the Chicken:
In a large bowl, toss the chicken with Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat and cook chicken for 5–6 minutes until golden and cooked through. Remove from skillet and set aside.Brown the Sausage:
In the same skillet, add the sausage slices and cook for 3–4 minutes until browned. Remove and set aside with the chicken.Make the Sauce:
Melt butter in the skillet, add minced garlic, and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant.
Pour in the chicken broth and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom.
Stir in the heavy cream and Parmesan cheese. Simmer for 5 minutes until slightly thickened.Combine Everything:
Add the chicken, sausage, and cooked pasta to the skillet. Toss everything together, adding a splash of reserved pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce.Finish & Serve:
Let it simmer for 2–3 more minutes. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve warm.
💡 Tips
For extra creaminess, stir in a tablespoon of cream cheese.
Use spicy Cajun sausage or add crushed red pepper flakes for a heat kick.
Substitute heavy cream with half-and-half for a lighter version.