Description
Discover the ultimate comfort food with Cheesy Garlic Cajun Chicken Rotini in Velveeta Cream Sauce. This creamy pasta dish perfectly marries tender chicken with a bold blend of Cajun spices and rich cheeses, resulting in a flavor explosion that will delight your taste buds. Easy to prepare in just 30 minutes, it’s perfect for busy weeknights or special gatherings. Serve it as a main course or a crowd-pleasing side dish at potlucks. With its warm, cheesy goodness, this recipe is guaranteed to impress family and friends alike.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 12 oz rotini pasta
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 8 oz Velveeta cheese
- 3 cups whole milk
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp Cajun seasoning
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh parsley or chopped chives (for garnish)
Instructions
- Boil salted water in a large pot and cook rotini until al dente (9–10 minutes). Reserve 1 cup of pasta water; drain and set aside.
- Season chicken with Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
- In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Sauté seasoned chicken for 6–8 minutes until golden brown and cooked through; remove from skillet.
- Melt butter in the same skillet; add minced garlic for 1 minute. Whisk in flour to create a roux.
- Gradually pour in milk while whisking; simmer until slightly thickened (3–5 minutes).
- Lower heat and stir in Velveeta and cream cheese until smooth.
- Add mozzarella and Parmesan cheese; stir until melted. Toss in cooked rotini and chicken until well coated.
- Adjust sauce thickness with reserved pasta water if necessary. Serve hot garnished with parsley or chives.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main
- Method: Boiling/Sautéing
- Cuisine: Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (240g)
- Calories: 540
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 850mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 17g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 46g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 90mg