Ingredients
1 pound (about 450 g) bite-size pasta such as fusilli, bowtie, rotini, or penne
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound (450 g) shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 pound (450 g) chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 small yellow onion, chopped into ΒΌ-inch pieces (about ΒΎ cup)
2 bell peppers of assorted colors, chopped into Β½-inch pieces (about 2 cups)
3 minced garlic cloves
1 cup heavy cream
2 to 3 tablespoons Cajun seasoning, adjusted to desired heat
Β½ cup reserved pasta water for adjusting sauce consistency
Fresh chopped parsley optional for garnish
Instructions
1-First: cook the pasta in heavily salted boiling water until al dente, then drain and reserve Β½ cup of the pasta water. This step ensures the pasta has great texture and helps with the sauce later. Next, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and sear the shrimp until they turn pink, about 2-3 minutes per side, then set them aside for now.
2- In the same skillet, add the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil and cook the chicken pieces with 1 tablespoon of Cajun seasoning until fully cooked through, roughly 5-7 minutes. Once done, remove the chicken and set it aside with the shrimp. Now, lower the heat to medium and sautΓ© the chopped onion, minced garlic, and bell peppers until the onions soften, which takes about 3-4 minutes, then deglaze with a splash of water to lift those tasty browned bits.
3- After setting aside the vegetables along with the chicken and shrimp, add the heavy cream and the remaining Cajun seasoning to the skillet. Simmer this mixture until it thickens, stirring to scrape up any flavorful bits from the bottom, about 3-5 minutes. Finally, toss in the cooked pasta, using the reserved pasta water if needed to get the sauce just right, then stir in the shrimp, chicken, and vegetables until everything is well combined and heated through. Serve hot, and if you like, top with fresh chopped parsley for a nice finish.
Last Step:
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π€ Pat shrimp dry before cooking to achieve a perfect sear.
π¦ Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency and help it cling to the pasta.
π Choose pasta shapes that hold sauce well, such as fusilli, rotini, or penne.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: SautΓ©ing and Simmering
- Cuisine: Cajun
- Diet: Standard
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 535
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 120mg
