Creamy Cajun Chicken & Garlic Rice (30 Mins | High-Protein)

Bold, creamy, and ready in just 30 minutes, this Creamy Cajun Chicken is the perfect weeknight dinner. Juicy Cajun-seasoned chicken breasts are seared until beautifully charred, then coated in a rich, smoky paprika cream sauce and served over fluffy, buttery garlic rice.

It’s comforting, flavorful, and incredibly easy to make — a restaurant-style meal the whole family will love.

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients

Cajun Chicken

• 1½ lbs chicken breasts, sliced horizontally into cutlets
• 1½ tbsp Cajun seasoning
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp butter

Garlic Rice

• 1 cup long-grain white rice, rinsed
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp butter
• Pinch of salt

Creamy Cajun Sauce

• 1 cup heavy cream
• ½ cup chicken broth
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp Cajun seasoning
• ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• Salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste

For Serving

• Fresh parsley, finely chopped
• Red pepper flakes

Instructions

1. Prepare the Garlic Rice

Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute, until fragrant.

Stir in the rinsed rice, chicken broth, and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 15 minutes.

Remove from the heat and let the rice rest, covered, for another 5 minutes. Fluff gently with a fork before serving.

2. Sear the Cajun Chicken

Generously season both sides of the chicken cutlets with Cajun seasoning.

Heat the olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and sear for 5–6 minutes per side, or until deeply golden and charred on the outside and cooked through to an internal temperature of 165°F.

Transfer the chicken to a plate and set aside.

3. Make the Creamy Cajun Sauce

Using the same skillet, add the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, until fragrant.

Pour in the chicken broth and scrape the bottom of the skillet to loosen all those flavorful browned bits.

Add the heavy cream, smoked paprika, and Cajun seasoning. Stir well and let the sauce simmer for 3–4 minutes, until it begins to thicken.

Reduce the heat and stir in the Parmesan cheese until melted and the sauce is smooth and creamy. Season with salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste.

4. Assemble and Serve

Slice the chicken into strips.

Divide the fluffy garlic rice among four plates and top with the sliced Cajun chicken. Spoon the creamy paprika sauce generously over the chicken and rice.

Finish with a sprinkle of fresh parsley and a pinch of red pepper flakes for a little extra color and heat.

Serve immediately and enjoy!