Cheesecake Factory Louisiana Chicken Pasta

Craving that irresistible Louisiana Chicken Pasta from the Cheesecake Factory but want a cozy night in without spending a bomb? You’re in luck!

This copycat recipe brings the fan-favorite dish right into your own kitchen. Featuring crispy, Cajun-seasoned chicken and a creamy, spicy parmesan sauce, this dish promises every single oomph of your restaurant favorite.

This recipe captures all the nuanced flavors you love and crave when dining out. If you are looking for a pasta recipe that screams comfort food, this is it!!

Everyone has their restaurant favorites right? It’s fun trying to recreate those quality flavors right in your home kitchen.

We have some great Copycat Recipes here on GypsyPlate. From Olive Garden’s Zuppa Toscana to Panda Express’s Beijing Beef, Benihana’s Hibachi Chicken to P.F Chang’s Chicken Lettuce Wraps, we sure are proud to deliver the right flavors, sometimes even better than the restaurants.

Louisiana Chicken Pasta

Today when hunting for some decadent pasta recipe ideas, we decided to give this famous Cheesecake Factory dish a try. This Louisiana Chicken Pasta is one of their most popular pastas on their menu. After trying it, we can understand the hype.

Here the chicken cutlets are seasoned just right with Cajun spices, and have a pleasant crunch, courtesy of breadcrumbs and Parmesan.

The sauce is the pure creamy indulgence, elevated by the sharpness of grated Parmesan. Bell peppers bring in a dash of sweetness, and the mushrooms lend an earthy nuance.

A sprinkle of Cajun seasoning and red chili flakes round out the flavors with just a touch of spice, making it inviting but not overwhelming.

When combined with pasta, the whole dish comes together as a delightful fusion of creamy, spicy, and savory elements. It’s a versatile meal that’s easy yet sophisticated. Give it a try, and watch it become one of your favorite Creamy Pasta Recipes.

You Will Love this Pasta, for:

• Tasty Flavors: The dish has a great mix of flavors – some spice, some creaminess, and even a little sweetness from the bell peppers.
• Different Textures: The chicken is crispy, the sauce is smooth, and the pasta is just right. All these different textures make each bite interesting.
• Good for Any Occasion: It’s a dish that works well for a regular weeknight or a special Sunday Dinner. It’s both comforting and a little fancy.
• Something Different: While many people are used to eating pasta and chicken, the Cajun spices and crispy chicken coating give this dish a unique twist.
• Like Eating Out, But at Home: People love that they can make a restaurant-quality dish right in their own kitchen, and even tweak it to their taste.
• Complete Meal: The dish has meat, veggies, and pasta, so you get a full meal in one dish, making it convenient.

Ingredient Notes

For Chicken Cutlet:

• Chicken Breast – Butterflied. You can also buy already pre-cut chicken cutlets.
• Cajun or Creole Seasoning – Adds that essential spicy, smoky flavor. Feel free to adjust the amount for your heat preference. We highly recommend using our Homemade Creole Seasoning blend for this recipe, as store brands have very high sodium content and can make your dish very salty.
• Breadcrumbs and Parmesan – These create the crispy texture and add a salty, cheesy note.
• Eggs – Act as the “glue” in the coating process.
• Oil for Frying – Vegetable or canola oil is great for frying due to its high smoke point and neutral flavor.

For Cajun Cream Sauce:

• Butter – Adds richness and helps sauté the vegetables.
• Bell Peppers – Red and yellow add sweetness and color.
• Crimini Mushrooms – Also known as baby bella, they provide an earthy element.
• Onion – We are using red today.
• Garlic – Offers a aromatic and flavorful kick. Fresh is best.
• Chicken Stock or Broth- Adds depth to the sauce. We use Better than Bouillon.
• Heavy Cream – Makes the sauce creamy and luxurious.
• Red Chili Flakes – These give the sauce an additional heat layer, so use according to your spice tolerance.

For Pasta:

• Bowtie (Farfalle) Pasta: Great for holding onto the sauce, but you can use any larger cut of short pasta like penne or rotini for this recipe.
• Parsley – Freshly chopped parsley not only garnishes the dish but also adds a light, herby contrast to the rich sauce.

Louisiana Chicken Pasta Recipe

1. Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add pasta and cook al dente. Drain and set aside.

2. Prepare Chicken: In a large, wide bowl, mix flour, breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan, Cajun or Creole seasoning, salt, and pepper. In another bowl, whisk eggs.

3. Fry Chicken: Heat ¼ cup oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Dredge each piece of butterflied chicken first in the breadcrumb mixture, then in the eggs, then back into the breadcrumb mixture. Fry until crispy and golden brown, about 4-5 minutes each side. Drain on paper towel-lined plate.

4. Make Sauce: In a large skillet or Dutch oven, melt butter over medium-high heat. Sauté bell peppers, onion and mushrooms for 3-4 minutes. Add garlic, salt, and pepper, and sauté for another minute.

Add Cajun or Creole seasoning, chicken stock, and heavy cream. Add grated Parmesan and red chili flakes. Simmer for 4-5 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning.

5. Combine and Serve: Add cooked pasta to the sauce and mix well.

Slice the fried chicken into strips. Serve pasta with chicken on top, garnished with chopped parsley and extra Parmesan.

Recipe Tips and Tricks

• Uniform Thickness: After butterflying the chicken breasts, pound them a bit to get a uniform thickness. This ensures even cooking.
• Double Dredging: The key to a crispy crust is double-dredging the chicken in the breadcrumb mixture, using eggs as the binder in between.
• Salted Water: Generously salt your pasta water for added flavor.
• Batch Cooking: Don’t overcrowd the pan when frying chicken. It lowers the oil temperature and makes the chicken less crispy.
• Low and Slow: Cook your sauce at a lower heat after adding the cream to prevent it from splitting or curdling.
• Toss to Coat: Before adding the chicken, make sure to toss the pasta thoroughly in the sauce to ensure every piece gets an even coating.

Possible Variations

This is a restaurant copycat, but remember you can always customize this fabulous pasta dish with whatever your heart fancies, and yet come up with a great dinner on the same theme.

• Protein Swap: Instead of chicken, try shrimp, seared scallops or sausage for a different flavor profile. You can also use pork cutlets instead of chicken.
• Veggie Variations: Swap out bell peppers for sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, or asparagus for a different veggie kick.
• Pasta Choices: Use fettuccine, penne, or rigatoni instead of bowtie pasta for a different texture.
• Spice Levels: Use smoked paprika or chipotle powder for a different type of heat.
• Cheese Choices: Try using Asiago or Pecorino Romano instead of Parmesan for a different cheesy note.
• Lighten Up: For a lighter version, use half-and-half instead of heavy cream, and grill the chicken instead of frying.
• Herb Garnish: Swap parsley for basil or chives to change up the finishing touch.

Leftovers and Storage

Louisiana Chicken Pasta is great as leftovers. Simply store pasta with its cream sauce in an airtight container. They’ll keep well in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. Place the cooled chicken cutlets in a separate airtight container to maintain their crispiness. These will also last 3-4 days in the fridge.

We don’t recommend freezing the pasta, as the sauce contains cream, which doesn’t freeze well.

When ready to eat, reheat the pasta and sauce together in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring in between until hot. Or reheat the sauce and pasta together in a saucepan over medium-low heat, adding a little water or broth to adjust the sauce’s consistency.

For the chicken, the microwave will work but may not retain the chicken’s crispiness. Reheat the chicken in a lightly oiled skillet over medium heat to regain some of its crispiness. Or, if you have an air fryer, that works great too.

There you go, the joy of mastering a restaurant favorite right in the comfort of your home! Now, every time you crave that Louisiana Chicken Pasta, you don’t have to make a reservation or spend much.

Your kitchen is your new five-star restaurant, and you, the acclaimed chef!! Have fun…

Louisiana Chicken Pasta, on our Gypsy Plate… enjoy!

More Creamy Pasta Recipes We Love:
Gigi Hadid Pasta
Creamy Salmon Pasta
Shrimp Primavera
Creamy Sausage Pasta
Rasta Pasta
Pastalaya