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Plate of golden Garlic Parmesan Chicken with creamy Cajun butter rice

Golden Garlic Parmesan Chicken with Creamy Cajun Butter Rice

A delightful and comforting dish featuring golden garlic Parmesan chicken served over creamy Cajun butter rice, perfect for weeknight dinners.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Comfort Food, Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Cajun
Calories: 650
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Chicken
  • 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into cutlets or chunks
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced Fresh garlic = bigger flavor.
  • 0.75 cup grated Parmesan cheese Grate your own Parmesan when possible.
  • 1 tsp Cajun seasoning
  • 0.5 tsp smoked paprika Smoked paprika adds warm color.
For the Cajun Butter Rice
  • 1.5 cups long-grain white rice
  • 3 cups chicken broth
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 0.5 cup heavy cream
  • 0.5 tsp Cajun seasoning
  • 0.25 tsp garlic powder
  • Fresh parsley (optional)
  • Extra Parmesan (optional)
  • A drizzle of garlic butter (optional)

Method
 

Cooking the Rice
  1. In a saucepan, melt 2 tbsp butter over medium heat. Stir in rice and toast for 1 minute until it smells nutty.
  2. Add 3 cups chicken broth, 1/2 tsp Cajun seasoning, 1/4 tsp garlic powder, and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, cover, and simmer on low for 15–18 minutes until tender.
  3. Stir in 1/2 cup heavy cream, fluff with a fork, cover, and keep warm while you cook the chicken.
Cooking the Chicken
  1. Rub chicken with 1 tsp Cajun seasoning, 1/2 tsp smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
  2. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil and 2 tbsp butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and sear 4–5 minutes per side until golden and cooked through.
  3. Remove chicken and set aside.
  4. Lower heat to medium, then add minced garlic to the same skillet and sauté 30 seconds until fragrant.
  5. Sprinkle 3/4 cup grated Parmesan into the pan, letting it melt into the butter.
  6. Return the chicken to the skillet. Spoon the garlic-Parmesan butter over each piece, cooking 1–2 minutes until glossy and fully coated.
Serving
  1. Spoon creamy Cajun butter rice onto plates and top with golden garlic Parmesan chicken. Garnish with parsley, extra Parmesan, and a drizzle of garlic butter if desired.

Notes

To save time, toast the rice while you prep the chicken. If garlic browns too fast, lower the heat and add a splash of chicken broth to stop it. A simple variation is to swap parsley for chopped chives or add a squeeze of lemon.