Description
A bold, creamy weeknight dinner, Buffalo Garlic Chicken Bites & Ranch Cajun Alfredo Twisted Pasta combines juicy buffalo-garlic chicken with silky ranch Cajun Alfredo over rotini. This easy skillet pasta is loaded with flavor, perfect for game day or family dinners. Keywords: buffalo garlic chicken bites, ranch Cajun Alfredo, twisted pasta, creamy buffalo pasta, weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
1 1/2 lb chicken breast, cut in 1-inch pieces
1/2 cup buffalo sauce
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp unsalted butter
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp fine salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
12 oz rotini pasta
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1 cup Parmesan cheese, finely grated
1 tbsp ranch seasoning powder
2 tsp Cajun seasoning
2 tbsp unsalted butter
1/2 cup reserved pasta water, as needed
2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
1 tsp lemon juice, optional
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook rotini until just al dente; reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain.
2. Pat chicken dry and season with salt and black pepper.
3. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high; add chicken and sear until golden and cooked through, 5 to 7 minutes.
4. Reduce heat to medium; add 2 tbsp butter, minced garlic, and buffalo sauce. Toss to coat the chicken; transfer chicken and juices to a bowl.
5. In the same skillet, pour in heavy cream; whisk in Parmesan, ranch seasoning, and Cajun seasoning. Simmer gently, 3 to 4 minutes, until creamy.
6. Stir in 1 to 3 tbsp reserved pasta water to loosen as needed; taste and adjust seasoning.
7. Add drained rotini and 2 tbsp butter; toss until every twist is glossy and coated.
8. Return buffalo garlic chicken to the skillet with any juices; toss.
9. Finish with parsley and optional lemon juice for brightness.
10. Serve hot with extra Parmesan if you like.
Notes
Bring cream to a gentle simmer only, not a hard boil, to prevent breaking.
Salt lightly at first if your buffalo sauce and Parmesan are salty; you can always add more.
Save pasta water before you drain; it’s your secret to silky sauce.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop, Skillet
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 860
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 1580 mg
- Fat: 55 g
- Saturated Fat: 30 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 22 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 64 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 63 g
- Cholesterol: 210 mg