Description
Indulge in a nutrient-dense, restaurant-quality meal that perfectly balances spicy notes with a velvety, creamy finish. This dish highlights lean, perfectly seared chicken breasts coated in an aromatic Cajun spice rub, served over a bed of fragrant, buttery garlic rice. It is the ultimate one-skillet dinner designed for efficiency, high protein intake, and maximum flavor satisfaction without the need for complex techniques.
Ingredients
1 3/4 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 1/2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning mix (divided)
2 teaspoons olive oil
3 tablespoons butter (divided)
2 cups uncooked long-grain rice
1 medium red onion, finely chopped
4–5 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup milk
5 ounces light cream cheese
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
In a small bowl, toss the chicken breasts with half of the Cajun seasoning until evenly coated.
Heat olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Sear the chicken until cooked through and golden brown, then remove and set aside.
In the same skillet, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and sauté the red onion and garlic until fragrant.
Add the rice and toast slightly before adding water (submerge according to rice package instructions) to cook the rice until fluffy.
In a separate saucepan or by clearing a side in the skillet, whisk the milk, light cream cheese, and remaining Cajun seasoning until smooth.
Stir in the Parmesan cheese until thick and velvety.
Combine the chicken and sauce, then serve over the garlic rice garnished with fresh parsley.
Notes
Use a heavy-bottomed pan for even heat distribution to prevent the creamy sauce from scorching. Adjust the Cajun spice level by adding more paprika for color or cayenne for heat. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 40
- Cook Time: 20
- Category: Chicken Dinner
- Method: Stovetop Searing and Simmering
- Cuisine: Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.25 cups
- Calories: 580
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 750mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 42g
- Cholesterol: 145mg