Description
A creamy Cajun chicken pasta dish featuring whipped roasted garlic feta and crispy chickpeas for a delightful balance of spice, creaminess, and crunch.
Ingredients
Scale
- 250g spaghetti or linguine
- 300g chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 tbsp Cajun seasoning
- 1 tbsp olive oil (for cooking chicken)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 150g feta cheese, crumbled
- 2 cloves roasted garlic
- 2 tbsp Greek yogurt or cream cheese
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1–2 tbsp milk
- 1 can (400g) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- Salt, to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
- Paprika, for color (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the crispy chickpeas: Preheat oven to 200°C (400°F). Drain, rinse, and thoroughly pat dry the chickpeas. Toss with olive oil, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and salt. Spread on a baking sheet and roast for 20–25 minutes, shaking halfway, until golden and crispy.
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add spaghetti and cook until al dente according to package directions. Reserve about ½ cup of pasta water before draining. Set pasta aside.
- Cook the Cajun chicken: Season chicken pieces with Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken for 6–8 minutes, turning occasionally, until golden brown and cooked through. Remove chicken from the skillet.
- Make the whipped roasted garlic feta: Combine crumbled feta cheese, roasted garlic, Greek yogurt or cream cheese, 1 tbsp olive oil, and 1–2 tbsp milk in a food processor or blender. Process until smooth and fluffy.
- Combine and serve: Add drained pasta back to the pot. Stir in the whipped roasted garlic feta and cooked Cajun chicken. Add a splash of reserved pasta water if needed to create a creamy sauce that coats the pasta. Season with additional Cajun seasoning if desired. Serve the creamy Cajun chicken pasta topped with crispy chickpeas and optional fresh parsley and paprika.
Notes
- Ensure chickpeas are completely dry for maximum crispiness.
- Do not overcook the pasta; it should be al dente.
- Reserve pasta water to help the sauce cling to the pasta.
- Adjust Cajun seasoning to your spice preference.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop and Oven
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 900mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 70g
- Fiber: 7g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 120mg