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.
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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.
Anonymous says
My husband loves this meal. We just add some cooked peas to it in the end and really like it.
Sarah Olson says
Peas are such a great idea! My family loves peas.
Geeta Singh says
I made this last night and it turned out great. I did add a can of Rotel’s roasted tomatoes like someone had commented. I used frozen chicken breasts instead. I cooked it on high for 3 hrs, but 2.5 hrs should be good enough. Just check the temp with a meat thermometer. The only thing I’d do different is add less whipping cream. Maybe 1 cup instead of 2. Took forever to thicken and was kind of soupy. You can also add mushrooms and spinach at the end with the cream.
Sarah Olson says
Thanks for the tips, sounds great with the mushrooms and spinach.
Megan says
I made this for dinner last night. My husband absolutely loved it. I myself like a little more flavor in the dish and thought it could use a bit more spice. Overall it’s a good dish and we will definitely be making it again.
A says
What kind of heavy cream did you use?
Sarah Olson says
I’m unsure, I usually use the store brand.
Devon says
Thanks!!! I dont know if there is a difference, but it is all I can ever find when a recipe calls for it. Trying this tomorrow!!
Devon says
Can I use heavy whipping cream instead?
Sarah Olson says
Yes! that’s what I often find and use.
Kaler Chandler says
Do you think you could freeze this meal ahead of time and then throw everything into the crockpot with the exception of the noodles?
Sarah Olson says
I’d wait on the cream and cheese, but yes you could do the other ingredients.
Becky says
How can you make the sauce thicker and no so thin and runny?
Sarah Olson says
Did you make it? Add more cheese maybe, mine thickened up after the pasta sat with the sauce for a bit.
Jillian says
This sounds delicious and I cannot wait to try making this recipe for an upcoming date night. I do have a question for you on cooking time. By the time I would set my crockpot on to the time I would arrive home from work, it would be 10 hours. Any recommendations? Would it ruin the dish if I cooked it on low for 10 hours? Sorry, I’m very new to cooking and am not sure how crockpots work.
Sarah Olson says
I think 8 hours would be the longest I would try cooking this for, sorry!
Carl says
If I lower this to 2-3 people I would just half the ingredients right? New to cooking so making sure
Sarah Olson says
It’s hard to tell without testing it. I apologize.
Carl says
Hey stupid question I am new into the cooking game. If I want to down size this for 2-3 people would I just half all the ingredients listed right? Thanks for any advice I am excited to try this tomorrow or monday!
Lori says
Do you fully cook the fettuccine, and then put it in the slow cooker for another 20 MINUTES? Won’t that overcook the pasta?
Sarah Olson says
No, the slow cooker heats very slowly and the heavy cream that was added cooled down the sauce.