Cajun Butter Chicken

A thin-sliced chicken breast cooked with Cajun butter sauce and plated alongside white rice, with one slice cut to reveal a moist, tender interior.

5 from 2 votes

Tender and bursting with flavor, Cajun Butter Chicken breasts are easy to make and a great way to beat weeknight dinner boredom. Made with everyday ingredients in about 20 minutes.

Prep Time5

Cook Time15

Total Time20

Course: Dinner, Main

Cuisine: American, Cajun

Keyword: Cajun butter chicken, Cajun chicken

Servings:

Calories: 224kcal

Author: Monica Lensink

Ingredients

1 Tablespoon brown sugar light or dark
2 teaspoons paprika sweet or smoky
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 Tablespoon olive or avocado oil divided
4 thin-sliced chicken breasts
4 Tablespoons butter divided
3-4 cloves garlic minced
1/2 cup chicken broth low-sodium preferred

Instructions

Combine brown sugar, paprika, oregano, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, black pepper, cayenne, and 2 teaspoons of the olive oil in a small bowl. Stir well, then rub this mixture all over the chicken breasts with your hands or with a fork.
1 Tablespoon brown sugar, 2 teaspoons paprika, 2 teaspoons dried oregano, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, 1/2 teaspoon chili powder, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper, 1 Tablespoon olive or avocado oil, 4 thin-sliced chicken breasts
Warm the remaining 2 teaspoons oil and 1 Tablespoon of the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. As soon as the butter melts, add the chicken. Cook for 3-4 minutes on each side, until the outside is golden and the inside is cooked through to a temperature of 165 degrees F. Reduce heat to medium-low, then transfer chicken to a plate and set aside.
4 Tablespoons butter
Melt the remaining 3 Tablespoons butter in the same skillet, then add the garlic and sauté for 30-60 seconds, just until fragrant. Pour in the broth. Scrape the bottom of the skillet very well to remove any browned bits. Bring the sauce to a simmer and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it thickens a bit.
3-4 cloves garlic, 1/2 cup chicken broth
Return chicken to the skillet and spoon sauce generously over each piece. Garnish with parsley, if desired, and serve. Enjoy!

Notes

This is a relatively sweet Cajun seasoning blend, with more brown sugar and less cayenne than some others. I find this gives you major flavor while keeping the overall effect palatable for most kids. For less sugar and more heat, reduce the brown sugar to 1 or 1.5 Tablespoons, and double the amount of cayenne.
Prefer to use store-bought Cajun seasoning? Substitute that for the spice mixture that is rubbed into the chicken. Use 2-3 Tablespoons, or as much as you need to thoroughly coat all the chicken on both sides when mixed with olive oil into a paste. Creole or blackening seasoning will have a similar profile.

Nutrition