🔥 Cajun Garlic Butter Chicken Rigatoni with Velveeta Cream Sauce
🍽️ Serves: 4–6
⏱️ Total Time: ~30–40 minutes
🧂 Ingredients:
🐔 For the Chicken:
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1½ lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
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1 tbsp Cajun seasoning (store-bought or homemade — see below)
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Salt & pepper, to taste
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1 tbsp olive oil
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1 tbsp butter
🍝 For the Pasta:
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12 oz rigatoni pasta, cooked al dente
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Salted water for boiling
🧄 For the Garlic Butter:
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4 tbsp unsalted butter
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4–5 cloves garlic, minced
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¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for kick)
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1 tbsp flour (optional, for a thicker sauce base)
🧀 For the Velveeta Cream Sauce:
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8 oz Velveeta cheese, cubed
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1 cup milk (or half-and-half for richer sauce)
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¼ cup Parmesan cheese (optional, for added depth)
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Salt and Cajun seasoning to taste
👩🍳 Instructions:
1. Cook the Pasta:
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Boil rigatoni in salted water according to package instructions. Drain and set aside, reserving ½ cup pasta water.
2. Season & Cook Chicken:
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Toss chicken pieces with Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper.
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Heat olive oil and 1 tbsp butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
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Cook chicken until golden and cooked through, ~5–7 minutes.
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Remove chicken from pan and set aside.
3. Make the Garlic Butter Base:
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In the same pan, melt 4 tbsp butter.
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Add garlic and sauté until fragrant (about 1 minute).
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Stir in red pepper flakes and optional flour; cook for 1 minute to thicken.
4. Make the Velveeta Cream Sauce:
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Lower heat to medium.
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Add milk to the garlic butter and stir gently.
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Add Velveeta cubes, stirring until melted and smooth.
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Stir in Parmesan, and season with additional Cajun seasoning to taste.
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If the sauce is too thick, stir in a splash of pasta water to loosen it up.
5. Combine:
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Return cooked chicken to the skillet.
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Add the drained rigatoni and toss to coat everything in the sauce.
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Let it simmer for 2–3 minutes so the pasta soaks up all that creamy goodness.
6. Serve:
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Garnish with chopped parsley, extra Parmesan, or a dash of hot sauce.
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Serve hot with garlic bread or a crisp green salad.
📝 Optional Homemade Cajun Seasoning:
Mix together:
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1 tsp smoked paprika
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½ tsp garlic powder
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½ tsp onion powder
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½ tsp dried oregano
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½ tsp dried thyme
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¼ tsp black pepper
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¼ tsp cayenne pepper
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¼ tsp salt
Want to make it spicier, bake it like a casserole, or turn it into a one-pot dish? Just say the word!
