Description
A creamy, flavorful Cajun Alfredo sauce bursting with bold spices and a hint of lemon zest, perfect for tossing with pasta or adding to Cajun chicken dishes.
Ingredients
Scale
Cajun Alfredo Sauce
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 1 ½ cup heavy cream
- 2 Tablespoons Cajun seasoning (homemade or store bought)
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt (omit if seasoning contains salt)
- 1¾ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 1 lemon zest only
Homemade Cajun Seasoning
- 3 Tablespoons smoked paprika
- 1 Tablespoon onion powder
- 1 Tablespoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon ground white pepper
- 1 teaspoon ground mustard
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
Instructions
- Melt Butter: Melt the ½ cup unsalted butter in a large skillet over low heat until melted and it begins to froth with white bubbles on top.
- Add Cream and Seasoning: Stir in 1 ½ cup heavy cream and 2 Tablespoons Cajun seasoning. Add ½ teaspoon kosher salt if needed. Bring to a simmer and cook on low heat for 5 to 6 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Add Lemon Zest and Cheese: Remove the pan from heat, add the zest of 1 lemon, then gradually add 1¾ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese, stirring continuously until the cheese is completely melted and the sauce is smooth. Adjust salt to taste.
- Toss with Pasta or Serve: Add cooked pasta to the pan and toss to coat evenly with the sauce, or serve the sauce as desired alongside your dish.
Notes
- Be mindful of the salt content in store-bought Cajun seasoning; many contain seasoning salts rather than spice blends. For best results, use the homemade seasoning recipe provided.
- Do not add lemon juice to bubbling cream as it may cause curdling; use only lemon zest for flavor.
- If the sauce is too thick, thin it with a small amount of reserved pasta water.
- To make Cajun Chicken Pasta, add 2 cups shredded cooked chicken and 12 to 16 ounces cooked pasta along with the sauce. Frozen peas and spinach are excellent additions.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 recipe
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 4 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg
