Cajun Chicken and Shrimp Alfredo is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal. Vibrant Cajun spices give this chicken and shrimp Alfredo dish a delicious kick of "Bam".
Why You Will Love This Recipe
Looking for an easy weeknight meal the whole family will love? This Cajun chicken and shrimp Alfredo is a simple meal that is packed with flavor. The creamy Alfredo sauce is made with a mix of Cajun spices, Parmesan cheese, and garlic, and it pairs perfectly with tender chicken and succulent shrimp. Ready in just 30 minutes!
This Cajun chicken and shrimp pasta recipe is also:
- Easy to make. This Cajun shrimp and shrimp pasta dish can be made in just one pan, making it a great option for busy weeknights.
- Air fryer friendly. White making the Alfredo sauce on the stovetop, you can use your air fryer to cook the seasoned chicken and shrimp.
- Full of flavor. The Cajun seasoning blend gives this dish a bold and flavorful taste.
- Versatile. This dish can be made with chicken, shrimp, or both. It can also be made with different types of pasta, such as penne, spaghetti, or ziti.
Jump to:
- Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Ingredients
- How to Make Chicken and Shrimp Alfredo
- Serving Suggestions
- Related Recipes
- Substitutions
- Variations
- Equipment
- Storage & Reheating
- Tips for Success
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Food Safety
- Some Other Recipes We Are Sure You Will Love
- 📖 Recipe
- Connect with Smells Like Delish!
Ingredients
If you have some left over cooked shrimp or chicken you can use it instead of fresh. Use real butter and cream though, as this is how you get the rich Alfredo sauce!
Here's what you need to make this chicken and shrimp Alfredo recipe:
- Chicken breast - Boneless, skinless and cubed into chunks.
- Shrimp - Raw, shelled and de-veined.
- Parmesan cheese - Fine grated.
- Heavy cream
- Butter
- Garlic - Minced.
- Nutmeg
- Cajun seasoning - I love Emeril Lagasse's, or Tony Chachere's.
- Salt
- White pepper
- Parsley - Fresh, chopped for garnish.
- Linguine, Fettuccine, or your favorite pasta - Prepared al dente according to package directions.
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
How to Make Chicken and Shrimp Alfredo
Overview: You will start your pot of water for cooking the pasta while the chicken and shrimp are cooking in the air fryer, and in a separate pot, prepare the creamy Alfredo sauce.
Drain the cooked pasta and place in a serving bowl to serve with the Chicken and Shrimp Alfredo.
Cut the Chicken and Shrimp
- Spray your air fryer basket with oil from an Oil Sprayer, or brush lightly with an oiled basting brush.
- Dice up the chicken breast and set in the basket of the air fryer. Add the shrimp. If using extra large shrimp, cut them in half.
PRO TIP: Don't use non stick cooking spray in your air fryer, as the propellants can damage the heating element.
Season the Chicken and Shrimp
- Add the Cajun spice to the chicken and shrimp. Toss to coat all the pieces. Air fry at 350 F for 20 minutes, or until cooked.
PRO TIP: No air fryer? No problem! Just saute the chicken in a skillet first on medium high heat, when the chicken is half way cooked, add the shrimp, as they take about half as long to cook.
Prepare The Alfredo Sauce
- While the chicken and shrimp are cooking, start a pot of water on to boil with a little salt, and let your pasta cook. Meanwhile, start preparing the Alfredo sauce.
- Melt the butter in a saucepan. Add the cream when butter is completely melted. Whisk to combine and heat up on medium low.
Add The Parmesan Cheese
- Add the Parmesan cheese and garlic, whisk again.
- Keep the stove top heat at a medium to medium low so that the cheese does not scorch during the melting.
Finish the Alfredo Sauce
The Alfredo sauce should ready to serve about the same time your pasta and meat are done. Remove the air fryer basket and transfer the Cajun seasoned chicken and shrimp to a bowl.
- Once the Parmesan cheese is all mixed in, add the nutmeg and white pepper. Mix well.
- Last, add the minced parsley (optional). Whisk and keeping Alfredo sauce to a low simmer.
Serving Suggestions
Plate some cooked pasta on serving bowls. Then spoon some of the creamy Alfredo sauce on the pasta. Last, serve the hot Cajun chicken and shrimp on top of this delicious pasta dish! Sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley for garnish.
Make this Cajun Chicken and Shrimp Alfredo a meal with our Air Fryer Broccolini, Sauteed Spinach & Onions, or Air Fryer Frozen Asparagus.
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Related Recipes
Substitutions
If you are not up to making the Alfredo sauce from scratch (though the flavor is spectacular!) you can use a jar of ready made Alfredo sauce. Trader Joe's has a very good version also.
Variations
While Cajun chicken and shrimp are a perfect pairing, there are other variations that are delicious also. Try Scallops and Shrimp, or strips of Ribeye steak and shrimp. The Cajun spices will make either combination fabulous.
- Cajun Shrimp and Scallops - Use small bay scallops and small shrimps so that they cook up at about the same time.
- Cajun Steak and Shrimp - use a tender cooking steak like Ribeye or New York strip steak. Cut it in smaller chunks and cook it with the shrimp. When the shrimp are cooked, the steak should be medium rare.
Equipment
- Stock Pot for boiling pasta
- Saucepan for making Alfredo Sauce
- Cast Iron Skillet if you don't want to use an air fryer to cook the chicken and shrimp.
- Oil Sprayer - to prevent the chicken and shrimp from sticking in the air fryer basket. Don't use non stick cooking sprays.
- Air Fryer 2.5 quart
- Air Fryer 6 quart (for larger families)
Use an Air Fryer to cook the meats, a saucepan for your Alfredo sauce, and boil up your pasta following the directions on the pasta package.
Storage & Reheating
Store leftover Cajun chicken and shrimp pasta in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, simply microwave it on high for 2-3 minutes, or until heated through.
Tips for Success
Here are a few tips for making the best Cajun Chicken and Shrimp Alfredo:
- Use a good quality Cajun seasoning blend. A good quality Cajun seasoning blend will give this dish a bold and flavorful taste.
- Don't overcook the chicken and shrimp. The chicken and shrimp should be cooked through, but they should still be tender.
- Add a splash of white wine to the sauce. A splash of white wine will add a touch of acidity to the sauce and it will also help to deglaze the pan.
- Use a jar of ready made Alfredo sauce if you're in a hurry!
- Serve with a side of crusty bread. A side of crusty bread is the perfect way to soak up all of the delicious sauce.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can, but reheating can be tricky to keep the original texture in the shrimp. Reheat on low and check every 15 second intervals. It is easier to freeze if you freeze the meats, pasta, and sauce separately.
Of course! If you have an air fryer, it makes this step super easy. If you don't have an air fryer, any skillet will be just fine!
Yes, you can make this dish ahead of time. Simply cook the chicken and shrimp, and then add the sauce and pasta just before serving.
Yes. You can substitute the heavy cream with plain yogurt, sour cream, cream cheese, half-and-half, evaporated milk, whole milk, or even use 2% milk.
Food Safety
- Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
Some Other Recipes We Are Sure You Will Love
📖 Recipe
Cajun Chicken and Shrimp Alfredo
Ingredients
For the Cajun Chicken and Shrimp
- 2 chicken breasts cubed
- 1 lb shrimp medium size
- 1½ teaspoon Cajun seasoning blend
For the Alfredo Sauce
- ½ cup butter
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 6 cloves garlic minced
- 3 cups grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon white pepper
- 2 tablespoon chopped parsley + more for garnish
- 1 lb fettuccine
Instructions
- Spray your air fryer basket with oil from an Oil Sprayer. Get a pot of water ready and heating to boil for cooking the fettuccine. When it boils, cook according to the instructions on the package.PRO TIP: Add a tablespoon of oil or a tablespoon of butter to keep the foam down and the pasta from sticking together. Cook according to the directions on the pasta container.1 lb fettuccine
- Dice up the chicken breast and set in the basket of the air fryer. Add the shrimp. If using extra large shrimp, cut them in half.
- Add the Cajun spice to the chicken and shrimp. Toss to coat all the pieces. Air fry at 350 F for 20 minutes, or until cooked. PRO TIP: No air fryer? No problem! Just saute the chicken in a skillet first on medium high heat, when the chicken is half way cooked, add the shrimp, as they take about half as long to cook.2 chicken breasts, 1 lb shrimp, 1½ teaspoon Cajun seasoning blend
- While the shrimp and chicken are cooking, melt the butter in a saucepan. Add the cream when butter is completely melted. Whisk to combine and heat up on medium low. Add the Parmesan cheese and garlic, whisk again.½ cup butter, 2 cups heavy cream
- Keep the stove top heat at a medium to medium low so that the cheese does not scorch during the melting. Once the cream has heated up add the garlic and Parmesan cheese in 1 cup intervals, whisking after each addition.6 cloves garlic, 3 cups grated Parmesan cheese
- After you have blended in all the Parmesan cheese add the nutmeg, white pepper, and chopped parsley. Chop a little more parsley for garnishing each serving.¼ teaspoon nutmeg, 1 teaspoon white pepper, 2 tablespoon chopped parsley + more for garnish
- One you drain the pasta, serve some on a plate. Add some Alfredo sauce on top of the pasta, and add a serving of the Cajun chicken and shrimp. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Start the pasta to cook at the beginning, drain it, toss with a drizzle of olive oil and set it aside. It is easy to reheat if it cools too much.
- Use a good quality Cajun seasoning blend. A good quality Cajun seasoning blend will give this dish a bold and flavorful taste.
- Don't overcook the chicken and shrimp. The chicken and shrimp should be cooked through, but they should still be tender.
- Add a splash of white wine to the sauce. A splash of white wine will add a touch of acidity to the sauce and it will also help to deglaze the pan.
- Use a jar of ready made Alfredo sauce if you're in a hurry!
- Serve with a side of crusty bread. A side of crusty bread is the perfect way to soak up all of the delicious sauce.
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