Description
Craving comfort food with bold, gourmet flair? These Parmesan Crusted Chicken Bites & Smoked Cajun Alfredo Gemelli will blow your tastebuds away. The chicken bites are crispy, cheesy, and perfectly seasoned, while the gemelli pasta is bathed in a rich, smoky Alfredo sauce with a hint of Cajun heat. This easy dinner idea blends the best of Italian and Southern cuisine, making it ideal for anyone looking for a hearty weeknight dinner, a quick comfort meal, or crowd-pleasing food ideas. Whether you’re after a healthy snack twist or rich dinner ideas, this one’s worth repeating.
Ingredients
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 large eggs
1 ½ cups panko breadcrumbs
½ cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
Salt and black pepper to taste
Oil for frying
12 ounces gemelli pasta
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 ½ cups heavy cream
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1–2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
Salt and pepper to taste
¼ teaspoon liquid smoke (optional)
Fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
1. Cut chicken breasts into bite-sized chunks and pat dry. Season lightly with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika.
2. Prepare dredging station with flour, beaten eggs, and breadcrumb-Parmesan mix (add garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika).
3. Coat each chicken piece in flour, then egg, then the breadcrumb mix. Set aside.
4. Heat oil in skillet to 350°F (175°C). Fry chicken bites in batches for 3–4 minutes per side until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.
5. Boil gemelli pasta in salted water until al dente (8–10 minutes). Reserve ½ cup pasta water and drain.
6. In a saucepan, melt butter. Sauté garlic for 1 minute, then add smoked paprika and Cajun seasoning. Stir in cream and simmer.
7. Whisk in Parmesan cheese until smooth. Adjust thickness with pasta water if needed. Add liquid smoke if using.
8. Toss cooked gemelli in the sauce and simmer for 1–2 minutes until well coated.
9. Plate the creamy pasta, top with crispy chicken bites, garnish with parsley and serve hot.
Notes
Use freshly grated Parmesan for a smoother, creamier Alfredo sauce.
For extra-crispy chicken, double dip the pieces in egg and breadcrumb mixture.
Adjust Cajun seasoning gradually—it can become overpowering quickly.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of full recipe
- Calories: 720
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 890mg
- Fat: 42g
- Saturated Fat: 19g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 36g
- Cholesterol: 170mg
Keywords: easy dinner, creamy pasta, parmesan chicken, weeknight meal, comfort food