Can I use pre-shredded cheese for the sauce?

Technically? Yes. Ideally? No way. Those pre-shredded bags contain anti-caking agents that make your sauce grainy. Taking two extra minutes to grate a block of mozzarella gives you the silkiest Alfredo sauce imaginable. But hey—if you're in a pinch, toss the pre-shredded cheese with a teaspoon of cornstarch first. It helps a little.

How do I tone down the spiciness?

First, taste your Cajun seasoning—some brands are fireballs! Start with just 1 tablespoon on the chicken. After cooking, stir in a tablespoon of honey or brown sugar to balance the heat. You can also add extra cream or toss in some roasted red peppers for sweetness.

Can I make this ahead of time?

The pasta absolutely doesn't wait well —it gets gummy as it sits. But you can prep components ahead. Cook chicken (store for 3 days), mix dry seasonings, and grate cheese. When ready, just boil pasta and make the sauce fresh. Takes 15 minutes and tastes way better.

What if my sauce breaks or gets clumpy?

Don't panic. Remove from heat and whisk in hot pasta water 1 tbsp at a time until smooth again. If it's really stubborn, blend it briefly with an immersion blender. Next time, keep the heat lower and add cheese gradually.

30-Minute Spicy Cajun Chicken Rigatoni in creamy Mozzarella Alfredo You'll Crave Daily -

Name: 30-Minute Spicy Cajun Chicken Rigatoni You'll Crave Daily
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients: 12 oz rigatoni pasta; 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced; 2 tbsp Cajun seasoning; 2 tbsp olive oil; 3 cloves garlic, minced; 1 cup heavy cream; 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese; 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese; 1 tbsp butter; Salt and pepper to taste; Fresh parsley for garnish

30-Minute Spicy Cajun Chicken Rigatoni You’ll Crave Daily

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A flavorful pasta dish featuring spicy Cajun chicken tossed with rigatoni in a creamy mozzarella Alfredo sauce.

Author: RecipeZest
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 20 mins
Total Time: 30 mins
Yield: 4 servings
Category: Dinner
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: Italian-American
Diet: Low Lactose

Ingredients

Scale

12 oz rigatoni pasta
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced
2 tbsp Cajun seasoning
2 tbsp olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 tbsp butter
Salt and pepper to taste
Fresh parsley for garnish

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Instructions

Cook rigatoni according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
Toss chicken slices with Cajun seasoning.
Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Cook chicken until browned and fully cooked.
Remove chicken from the pan. In the same pan, sauté garlic until fragrant.
Add heavy cream, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese. Stir until melted and smooth.
Mix in cooked pasta and chicken. Stir until well coated.
Season with salt and pepper. Garnish with fresh parsley.

Notes

Adjust Cajun seasoning for more or less spice.
Use freshly grated cheese for smoother sauce.
Reserve pasta water to thin sauce if needed.

Find it online: https://recipeszest.com/spicy-cajun-chicken-rigatoni-creamy-mozzarella-alfedo-recipe/