Description
A bold, crowd-pleasing easy dinner that pairs caramelized maple garlic chicken bites with a silky spicy Cajun Alfredo and crispy Brussels sprouts. It’s the perfect balance of sweet, creamy, and heat—great for quick dinner cravings, special comfort food nights, or meal prep. Keywords: quick dinner, easy dinner, creamy pasta, chicken and pasta, comfort food, weeknight dinner, spicy Cajun Alfredo, maple garlic chicken, crispy Brussels sprouts, food ideas, dinner ideas, easy recipe.
Ingredients
1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast, bite-sized
2 tbsp olive oil
3 tbsp pure maple syrup
2 cloves garlic, minced (for chicken)
1 tsp smoked paprika
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp kosher salt (divided)
1/2 tsp black pepper (divided)
8 oz fettuccine or linguine
2 tbsp unsalted butter
3 cloves garlic, minced (for sauce)
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
1 1/2 tsp Cajun seasoning
1/4 tsp kosher salt (for sauce)
1/8 tsp black pepper (for sauce)
12 oz Brussels sprouts, halved
1 1/2 tbsp olive oil (for Brussels)
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
1/4 tsp kosher salt (for Brussels)
1/8 tsp black pepper (for Brussels)
2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (garnish)
2 tbsp Parmesan, grated (garnish)
1 pinch smoked paprika (garnish)
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Toss Brussels sprouts with olive oil, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper; roast 18–22 minutes, flipping halfway.
2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta to al dente; reserve 1/2 cup pasta water and drain.
3. Heat a heavy skillet over medium-high with olive oil. Season chicken with smoked paprika, cayenne, salt, and pepper; sear 3–4 minutes per side until cooked through.
4. Lower heat; add minced garlic for 30 seconds. Stir in maple syrup; toss until glossy and coated. Remove from heat.
5. In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Sauté garlic 1 minute; add heavy cream and Cajun seasoning; simmer gently. Whisk in Parmesan until smooth; season and loosen with pasta water as needed.
6. Toss pasta with Cajun Alfredo; plate with roasted Brussels sprouts and maple garlic chicken bites. Garnish with parsley, Parmesan, and smoked paprika.
Notes
Freshly grated Parmesan melts smoother than pre-shredded varieties.
Maple syrup can be swapped for honey for a different sweetness profile.
Smoked paprika in both chicken and sauce adds deeper, smoky warmth.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 10
- Sodium: 740
- Fat: 31
- Saturated Fat: 15
- Unsaturated Fat: 16
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 54
- Fiber: 6
- Protein: 38
- Cholesterol: 145
Keywords: maple garlic chicken bites, spicy cajun alfredo, crispy brussels sprouts, easy dinner, weeknight dinner, creamy pasta, sweet and spicy, comfort food, quick dinner, chicken and pasta, dinner ideas, food ideas, easy recipe