Creamy cajun chicken fettuccine alfredo is a perfect meal for any weeknight. You can make a homemade cajun alfredo sauce and tender chicken in the slow cooker, then add cooked fettuccine noodles to complete the dish.
If you are looking for a plain chicken alfredo recipe, try my crockpot chicken alfredo recipe.
This slow cooker Cajun chicken fettuccine was one of those recipes that changed after the ingredients were bought. I had planned to make a dish called chicken lazone, but decided to add a few more Cajun seasonings, then add pasta and Parmesan cheese to the pot at the end of the cooking time, along with the cream.
Cajun chicken alfredo pasta is a great spicy recipe for pasta night! This pasta has a bit of a kick to it, mainly from the cayenne. It was a nice change from my regular pasta recipes.
Recipe Ingredients
- Chicken – Use boneless skinless chicken breasts for this dish. They shred up perfectly.
- Seasonings – Make a homemade cajun seasoning blend with cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, oregano, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. You can add more cayenne pepper for a bolder cajun flavor.
- Chicken broth – This is the base of the sauce and will help keep chicken breast moist during the cooking process.
- Heavy Cream – Makes the dish creamy and helps thicken it, don’t use half and half or milk.
- Parmesan Cheese – This adds flavor to the creamy alfredo sauce. You can use shredded parmesan cheese or grated parmesan cheese.
- Fettuccine Noodles – A classic noodle for cajun chicken pasta.
Step One – Add the chicken broth to the slow cooker. Add the seasonings to the chicken broth and stir. Add the chicken breasts to the broth.
Step Two – Add the onion on top of the chicken.
Step Three – Cook on low for 6 hours.
Step Four – Shred the chicken with two forks right in the slow cooker.
Step Five – Add the heavy cream.
Step Six – Add the cooked and drained fettuccine noodles and a 1/2 cup of parmesan cheese.
Step Seven – Stir gently.
Step Eight – Add additional parmesan cheese, parmesan, paprika, and parsley (or oregano) on top—Cook for an additional 20 minutes. Serve the alfredo pasta with salad and bread sticks.
Variations
- Shrimp – Add shrimp 15 minutes before the cooking time is done. Shred the chicken, add the cream and noodles and cook for the 20 additional minutes still. Make sure the shrimp is cooked through.
- Andouille sausage – You can add one pound of sliced andouille sausage at the beginning of the cooking time.
- Penne Pasta – You can use penne pasta instead of fettuccine noodles for a heartier noodle.
Recipe FAQs
You can use two teaspoons of cajun spice seasoning (such as Tony’s Chachere’s Creole Seasoning) instead of the different seasonings in this dish. Don’t add any more, for it can be on the salty side.
Cayenne pepper loses its potency the longer it’s been on the shelf, or it can sometimes not be as spicy as other brands. You can add additional cayenne pepper after the dish is done cooking for more cajun spice.
You can add a block of cream cheese to this dish instead of heavy cream. You can add it at the beginning of the cooking time or microwave it for 30 seconds before adding the dish at the end of the cooking time.
To make this a complete meal, add steamed broccoli or frozen peas to the pasta just before serving.
Want to make more magic in your crockpot? Stay up to date and subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Tik Tok, and YouTube.
Slow Cooker Cajun Chicken Fettuccine
Ingredients:
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
- 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp. onion powder
- 1/2 tsp. dried leaf oregano
- 1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes
- 1 1/2 tsp. paprika
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. pepper
- 2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 small white onion diced
Add at the end:
- 1 lb. fettuccine noodles cooked according to package directions
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 3/4 cup parmesan cheese divided
- dried parsley or oregano for garnish
- paprika for garnish
Instructions:
- Add the chicken broth to the slow cooker, add the cayenne, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, red pepper flakes, paprika, salt and pepper. Stir.
- Add the chicken breasts and flip them around in the seasoned chicken broth to get the seasonings on the chicken.
- Sprinkle the onions over the chicken and broth.
- Cover and cook on low for 6 hours without opening the lid during the cooking time.
- After the cooking time is done, shred the chicken with two forks right in the slow cooker. Add the heavy cream.
- Add the cooked and drained pasta and a ½ cup of the Parmesan cheese. Stir.
- Sprinkle over the remaining parmesan cheese. I added a touch more paprika and also parsley flakes to the top of my pasta to make it look pretty. Cover and cook for 20 more minutes. Cooking for a bit longer helps the sauce thicken from the gluten in the pasta.
- Serve and enjoy!
How to Video:
Sarah’s Notes:
- To make this a complete meal stir in steamed veggies into the pasta with the noodles at the end of the cooking time.
- You can add a block of cream cheese to this dish instead of heavy cream. You can add it at the beginning of the cooking time or microwave it for 30 seconds before adding the dish at the end of the cooking time.
- Cayenne pepper loses its potency the longer it’s been on the shelf or it can sometimes not be as spicy as other brands. You can add additional cayenne pepper after the dish is done cooking to taste.
- You can use two teaspoons of cajun spice seasoning (such as Tony’s Chachere’s Creole Seasoning) instead of the different seasonings in this dish. Don’t add any more, for it can be on the salty side.
Nutrition Information:
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
Morgan says
If I’m using gluten free noodles would it not need to be cooked 20 additional minutes?
Sarah Olson says
possibly not. I know egg noodles would fall apart in that extra 20 mins, so possible the gluten free would do the same.
Alex says
What kind of parmesan. Cheese! Grated (like speghett] or shredded
Sarah Olson says
I used the grated (the finer kind)
Claudia says
Hi Sarah! Do you think I could use my frozen chicken breasts that I have on hand or should I thaw them out first? Looking forward to this meal!! ❤️
Sarah Olson says
I think frozen would probably work fine!
Ashlee says
Hi! Did u try the dish with frozen chicken? I was gonna try that also so just checking
Erica says
If I just want to use Cajun spice instead, how much would you recommend? Thanks!
Sarah Olson says
I’d say a teaspoon? It’s really hard to tell. It can be salty.
Ilana Bailey says
Hello,
So I’m planning on making this dish with the chicken, but since my mother can only eat fish I want to try and make her this dish but maybe with Salmon. Do you think that would be good?
Thanks
Sarah Olson says
I haven’t tried seafood in that slow cooker! Sorry
Diego Lopes says
Beautiful! Made me hungry again just to look at it… maybe I’ll just bookmark this for no reason at all… thanks for the recipe!
Sandy says
Oct 30, 2017
Delicious! I did add a drained can of Rotel tomatoes with habanero for color and a little extra heat. Perfect. Served with garlic bread
Sarah Olson says
great idea Sandy! Thanks for sharing!
Jeanine says
DO you suggest regular grated Parmesan cheese or from a bag?
Sarah Olson says
I used the kind in a shaker jar. Either would be great though.
Alie says
Thank you for the recipe! I made this on Saturday and I was really looking forward to it. Unfortunately, it didn’t come out quite like I was expecting. With all of the seasonings being in such a small amount, I do not think it had enough spice. I see that someone else has made this with success but I was just wondering if you could check the measurements? Additionally, your images make the dish look pink and mine was not pink at all. I’m thinking about trying again because it’s entirely possible I messed something up but I think I might double all the seasonings. I’m so thankful for people who post recipes because I cannot cook a meal without one. I don’t mean to meanly question the recipe, I just feel like either I missed something or maybe it should be 1 1/4 tsp of cayenne? Thank you.
Sarah Olson says
A 1 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne would be stomach turning hot, or could be your cayenne may be milder than mine. It is the type of recipe that more seasonings could be added at the end to taste.
Alison says
Ok, thank you! You know, I’ve had my cayenne for a year, at least. Maybe it lost potency? Plus it’s Kroger brand, perhaps that makes a difference as well? Either way we loved it and I’m looking forward to trying again, with a bit more kick. Thanks!
Lisa says
I made this and it is FANTASTIC!! I added a bit more of the seasonings than called for and I think when I make it again I will double
Sarah says
I agree from previous post about not seeming like enough spices. Yeah the heat maybe could have been kicked up a notch but I was more disappointed with the overall lack of flavor with this dish. Next time I plan on doubling all seasonings except the cayenne and red pepper flakes.
Eleanor Grubbs says
This was fantastic! Seasoning was perfect…spicy enough to give a kick but not too hot. This will be added to my rotation of meals! Love the magical slow cooker!
Sarah says
Does 3 hrs on high work as well?
Sarah Olson says
I would do 3.5-4 hours on high. I don’t think 3 hours would get the chicken tender.
Val says
Hi Sarah. I am wondering “how much” of a kick this has. We love Cajun spiced dishes, but just not to hot. I tend to steer away from red pepper flakes for that reason. Would adding just the 1/4 tsp. of cayenne be enough to make it mildly spicy. Thanks for your help. BTW I love your site.
Sarah Olson says
Hi Val, I would omit the red pepper flakes and even decrease the cayenne a bit. Should be fine. I hope you like it.