Description
Looking for a bold yet comforting dinner idea? These Garlic Chicken Bites & Creamy Cajun Spinach Artichoke Alfredo Pasta bring the perfect balance of crispy and creamy to your plate. Tender chicken bites seasoned with garlic and herbs rest atop rich, silky Alfredo pasta, with Cajun flair and loaded with spinach and artichokes. This easy recipe is ideal for a quick dinner, a cozy weekend indulgence, or a crowd-pleasing favorite. Whether you’re after food ideas for an elevated weeknight or a crowd-pleasing comfort meal, this dish delivers restaurant-quality flavor without the fuss. It’s a hearty, creamy pasta dish that belongs in your best easy dinner rotation.
Ingredients
2 large chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized chunks
1 teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Salt and pepper, to taste
½ cup buttermilk
½ cup breadcrumbs
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons olive oil
8 oz fettuccine or linguine
1 tablespoon butter
3 cloves garlic, minced
1½ cups heavy cream
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
1½ cups fresh spinach, roughly chopped
½ cup canned or jarred artichoke hearts, chopped
Optional: crushed red pepper flakes
Optional garnish: chopped parsley or extra Parmesan
Instructions
1. In a bowl, mix chicken chunks with garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and buttermilk. Let marinate for at least 15 minutes.
2. In a shallow dish, combine breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese.
3. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Dredge marinated chicken in breadcrumb mixture and cook in batches for 3–4 minutes per side until crispy and golden. Set aside.
4. Cook fettuccine in a large pot of salted water until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain.
5. In a large saucepan, melt butter and sauté garlic until fragrant. Add heavy cream and simmer gently.
6. Stir in Parmesan, Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper. Simmer until slightly thickened.
7. Add spinach and chopped artichokes to the sauce. Cook until spinach is wilted.
8. Toss in cooked pasta and a splash of pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce.
9. Taste and adjust seasoning.
10. Serve pasta topped with crispy garlic chicken bites. Garnish with parsley and extra Parmesan if desired.
Notes
Marinate the chicken in buttermilk to keep it tender and flavorful.
Always reserve some pasta water—it helps make the sauce silky and cling better to the noodles.
Freshly grated Parmesan melts smoother than pre-shredded cheese and delivers better flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American/Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1¼ cups pasta + chicken
- Calories: 690
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 640mg
- Fat: 38g
- Saturated Fat: 19g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: <1g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 36g
- Cholesterol: 135mg
Keywords: easy dinner, creamy pasta, garlic chicken, comfort food, Alfredo pasta, chicken Alfredo, Cajun pasta