Blackened Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo

C likes pasta just as much as me, if not more.  He also likes fettuccine sauce, which is the worst sauce for you, health wise.  You can imagine the dilemma.  I try to expand his pallet a little, but every once and a while I have to give in to what I know he likes.  This recipe is a quick weeknight dinner; or in my case a Sunday, I'm lazy and don't feel like cooking, dinner.  Either way, you're going to like it.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.  Pound the chicken until pretty thin, around 1/4" thick.  I used one chicken breast, and it was enough for two people with one serving of leftovers.

Mix together all of the spices: paprika, Cayenne pepper, cumin, thyme, salt, pepper and onion powder.  Coat both sides of the chicken with the spices.

Spray a skillet with non-stick spray and heat over medium heat.  Place the chicken in the pan and brown on both sides, approximately one minute on each side. 

Place the chicken in the prepared baking pan and bake in the oven for around 10 minutes, until cooked through.  Remove and cut into strips.

While the chicken is cooking, cook the pasta according to package directions.  Drain and return pasta to a warm pot.

Pour in the Alfredo sauce and mix thoroughly with the pasta.  I used the light creamy Alfredo, and it was delicious.  You could also make your own Alfredo sauce and use that.

Serve pasta with the sliced chicken on top.  This was quick and delicious.  The chicken is spicy and adds a lot to the pasta.  You're welcome C ;)

Blackened Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo

Serves 4

Adapted from This Week for Dinner Blog

9 oz of pasta, I used angel hair, but you could use fettuccine

1 jar Alfredo pasta sauce

2 boneless chicken breasts

1 teaspoon paprika

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1/4 teaspoon onion powder

Lightly spray a 9x13 inch baking dish with cooking oil, set aside.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Pound the chicken breast until thin.

Mix all of the spices together.

Coat both sides of the chicken breasts with the spices.

Coat a skillet with non-stick spray and heat over medium heat.

Place chicken breasts in the pan and brown on both sides.

Place chicken in the prepared pan and bake in the oven for around 10 minutes.

Remove and slice into strips.

Cook pasta according to package directions.

Drain and return pasta to a warm pot.

Pour the Alfredo sauce and mix thoroughly.

Serve with sliced chicken on top of pasta.