Cajun Chicken Pasta

One of my favorite dishes is Cajun Chicken Pasta and I have made lots of varieties of it. I found this one from the Pioneer Woman, who is my new favorite chef, and it did not disappoint! It has LOTS of flavor and packs a punch! I have to admit.....most likely 90% of my future recipes will be coming from the Pioneer Woman, I watch her show and use both her cookbooks and they are ALL fantastic!

Ingredients:

3 whole Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts, Cut Into Cubes

3 teaspoons Cajun Spice Mix, More To Taste

1 pound Fettuccine

2 Tablespoons Olive Oil

2 Tablespoons Butter

1 whole Green Bell Pepper, Seeded And Sliced

1 whole Red Bell Pepper, Seeded And Sliced

3 cloves Garlic, Minced

4 whole Roma Tomatoes, Diced

2 cups Chicken Broth

½ cups White Wine

1 cup Heavy Cream

Cayenne Pepper To Taste

Freshly Ground Black Pepper, To Taste

Salt To Taste

Chopped Fresh Parsley, To Taste

 Instructions:

Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain when pasta is still al dente; do not overcook!

Sprinkle 1 1/2 teaspoons Cajun spice over chicken pieces.

 Toss around to coat. 

Heat 1 tablespoon oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a heavy skillet over high heat. 

Add half the chicken in a single layer; do not stir. 

Allow chicken to brown on one side, about 1 minute. Flip to the other side and cook an additional minute. 

Remove with a slotted spoon and place on a clean plate.

Repeat with remaining chicken. Remove chicken, leaving pan on high heat.

Add remaining olive oil and butter. When heated, add peppers, onions, and garlic. 

Sprinkle on remaining Cajun spice, and add salt if needed.

 Cook over very high heat for 1 minute, stirring gently and trying to get the vegetables as dark/black as possible. 

Add tomatoes and cook for an additional 30 seconds. 

Remove all vegetables from the pan.

With the pan over high heat, pour in the wine and chicken broth. 

Cook on high for 3 to 5 minutes, scraping the bottom of the pan to deglaze.

 Reduce heat to medium-low and pour in cream, stirring/whisking constantly. 

Cook sauce over medium-low heat for a few minutes, until cream starts to thicken the mixture. 

Taste and add freshly ground black pepper, cayenne pepper, and/or salt to taste.

 Sauce should be spicy!

Finally, add chicken and vegetables to sauce, making sure to include all the juices that have drained onto the plate.

 Stir and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, until mixture is bubbly and hot. 

Add drained fettuccine and toss to combine.

Top with chopped fresh parsley and enjoy it!

Source: Pioneer Woman