Creamy Italian Sausage Cajun Chicken (Printer-Friendly Version)
Rich pasta with Italian sausage, Cajun-spiced chicken, and a creamy, tangy sauce. Quick, satisfying, and flavorful.
# Required Ingredients:
→ Meat and Poultry
01 -
2 chicken breasts, thinly sliced or pounded
02 -
250 g Italian sausage, casing removed
→ Pasta
03 -
350 g short pasta (such as penne or fusilli)
→ Dairy
04 -
200 ml heavy cream
05 -
30 g unsalted butter
06 -
60 g parmesan cheese, freshly grated
→ Vegetables and Aromatics
07 -
3 cloves garlic, minced
08 -
4 pepperoncini peppers, diced
→ Seasonings and Oils
09 -
3 tablespoons cajun seasoning
10 -
2 tablespoons olive oil
11 -
60 ml pepperoncini juice (from jar)
12 -
120 ml chicken stock
13 -
Salt, to taste
14 -
Black pepper, to taste
# Step-by-Step Instructions:
01 -
Rub chicken breasts with olive oil and season generously on both sides with 2 tablespoons of cajun seasoning.
02 -
Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken for approximately 3 minutes without moving, then flip, reduce heat to low, and add chicken stock. Cover and gently simmer for 6 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 74°C. Remove chicken and tent with foil.
03 -
Drain excess liquid from the pan. Add Italian sausage, breaking it apart, and cook over medium heat until fully cooked. Transfer sausage to a plate, reserving 1 tablespoon of oil in the pan.
04 -
Over medium-low heat, melt butter in the reserved oil. Add minced garlic and diced pepperoncini; sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute.
05 -
Whisk in heavy cream, 1 tablespoon cajun seasoning, and pepperoncini juice. Simmer gently while separately boiling pasta according to package instructions until al dente.
06 -
Add grated parmesan, cooked pasta, and sausage into the cream sauce. Toss to coat, adding reserved pasta water to loosen if needed. Slice chicken, arrange on top, and serve immediately.
# Handy Cooking Tips:
01 -
Reserve some pasta cooking water to adjust sauce consistency as needed.
02 -
For extra flavor, freshly shred parmesan cheese instead of using pre-grated.