Description
A quick and flavorful dish featuring tender garlic chicken bites tossed with creamy Cajun-spiced Alfredo sauce, spinach, and artichoke hearts over fettuccine pasta. This meal is perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb chicken fillet, cut into 1-inch bites
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup fresh spinach, chopped
- 1/2 cup artichoke hearts, chopped
- 8 oz fettuccine pasta
- 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook fettuccine pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside, reserving about 1/2 cup of pasta water.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add chicken bites in a single layer and cook for 3-4 minutes until golden brown on one side. Flip and cook for another 3-4 minutes until mostly cooked through.
- Add minced garlic and Cajun seasoning to the chicken. Stir for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer.
- Gradually add grated Parmesan cheese, stirring constantly until melted and the sauce is silky.
- Fold in chopped spinach and artichoke hearts. Cook until spinach wilts, about 1 minute.
- Add the drained pasta to the skillet with the sauce. Toss well to coat every strand. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of reserved pasta water to loosen it.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- Adjust Cajun seasoning to your spice preference.
- For a lighter option, use half-and-half instead of heavy cream.
- Fresh spinach provides the best texture; frozen spinach can make the sauce watery.
- Pat chicken bites dry before cooking for better browning.
- Serve immediately as the sauce thickens as it sits.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in a skillet over low heat with a splash of cream or milk.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
- Calories: 580
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 145mg
Keywords: garlic chicken bites creamy, creamy garlic chicken bites, Cajun chicken pasta, spinach artichoke pasta, Alfredo pasta