Parmesan Crusted Chicken Bites with Smoked Cajun Alfredo Gemelli

 

🔥🧄🍗 Parmesan-Crusted Chicken Bites with Smoked Cajun Alfredo Gemelli 🍝✨

Get ready for a gourmet comfort food masterpiece that blends crispy, cheesy chicken with creamy, smoky pasta bliss! Golden-brown garlic–Parmesan chicken bites meet tender gemelli pasta, all luxuriously bathed in a Smoked Cajun Alfredo sauce with a hint of chipotle heat. Finished with buttery toasted breadcrumbs and a drizzle of aromatic chive oil—it’s indulgence on a plate.

🍝 Ingredients (2–3 servings)

➡️Pasta:

225g (8 oz) gemelli pasta

Salt for boiling water

➡️ Chicken Bites:

◾️450g (1 lb) chicken breast or thighs, diced (1-inch pieces)

◾️1 tbsp olive oil

◾️2 tbsp butter 🧈

◾️4 cloves garlic, minced

◾️60ml (¼ cup) grated Parmesan 🧀

◾️Salt & black pepper

➡️ Smoked Cajun Alfredo Sauce:

◾️2 tbsp butter 🧈

◾️3 cloves garlic, minced

◾️350ml (1 ½ cups) heavy cream

◾️120ml (½ cup) broth

◾️1½–2 tbsp Cajun seasoning 🌶️

◾️½ tsp chipotle powder (or liquid smoke + smoked paprika)

◾️240ml (1 cup) Parmesan 🧀

◾️Salt & pepper

➡️ Finish:

◾️Toasted Breadcrumbs:

◾️2 tbsp butter 🧈

◾️½ cup panko breadcrumbs

➡️Chive Oil:

◾️¼ cup neutral oil

◾️¼ cup fresh chives, minced

👩‍🍳 Method:

✅️1. Cook Pasta:

Boil gemelli in salted water until al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, drain, and set aside.

✅️2. Crispy Chicken Bites:

Season chicken with salt & pepper. Sear in olive oil over medium-high heat for 6–8 minutes until golden and cooked through.

Lower heat, add butter, garlic, and Parmesan. Stir 1–2 minutes until coated in a garlicky, cheesy crust. Keep warm.

✅️3. Smoked Cajun Alfredo:

In a separate pan, melt butter. Sauté garlic for 30 seconds.

Add cream & broth, simmer gently. Stir in Cajun seasoning & chipotle powder.

Reduce heat, whisk in Parmesan until creamy. Adjust salt & pepper. Thin with pasta water if needed.

✅️4. Toasted Breadcrumbs:

Melt butter in a small pan, add panko, and toast 3–5 minutes until golden.

✅️5. Chive Oil:

Stir chopped chives into neutral oil.

✅️6. Assemble:

Toss pasta with Alfredo sauce. Fold in chicken bites. Serve topped with breadcrumbs and a drizzle of chive oil.

💡 Pro Tips:

◾️Use freshly grated Parmesan for the smoothest sauce.

◾️Start with less Cajun seasoning, then adjust to your spice tolerance.

◾️Gemelli’s twisted shape locks in that creamy sauce for the perfect bite.