This cajun butter chicken turns an ordinary piece of chicken into a tasty, flavor-packed main dish.
It’s coated in a zesty Cajun seasoning and seared to perfection in a melted butter and garlic sauce, making this juicy chicken the main event at any dinner table.
Cajun Butter Chicken Thighs
If you’re a fan of fine Cajun cooking, you won’t get enough of this Cajun chicken recipe!
Cajun spice makes for the best chicken seasoning, and it’s no wonder why: it’s bold, spicy, and has a hint of earthiness that makes it truly one of a kind. The best part? You’ll likely find everything you need for the seasoning already sitting in your spice cabinet.
Serve this delicious chicken with mashed potatoes, green beans, rice, or any of your favorite sides. It goes great with just about everything!
Why You’ll Love this Cajun Butter Chicken Recipe:
- Easy to Make: This Cajun butter chicken requires simple ingredients and follows a super easy cooking method.
- Ready in 30 minutes: Get this yummy chicken from kitchen to table in only 30 minutes!
- Family Favorite: It’s so easy to love Cajun-spiced anything! This chicken has the perfect amount of heat to please those who are sensitive to spicy food.
How to Make Cajun Butter Chicken
Be sure to see the recipe card below for full ingredients & instructions!
- In a small bowl, combine the seasoning ingredients. Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels and sprinkle them with the seasoning mixture.
- Melt together 1 tbs. of the butter and oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken for 5-7 minutes per side. Transfer the chicken to a plate.
- Reduce the heat to medium and melt the remaining butter. Add the garlic and saute for 30 seconds, until fragrant, then add the lime juice and chicken broth. Deglaze the pan according to the instructions (see recipe card), and let the sauce simmer for 1-2 minutes, whisking often.
- Return the chicken to the skillet and spoon the sauce over top, allowing it to just rewarm the chicken before serving. Enjoy!
Cajun seasoning is a seasoning blend that typically contains black pepper, white pepper, cayenne pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and paprika. You can find it in the spice aisle of most grocery stores. If you don’t have Cajun seasoning, you can make your own by combining 3 parts paprika, 2 parts kosher salt, 2 parts garlic powder, 1 part ground black pepper, 1 part ground white pepper, 1 part onion powder, 1 part dried oregano, 1 part cayenne pepper, and ½ part dried thyme.
Absolutely! You can swap the thighs for an equal amount of boneless, skinless chicken breasts if you prefer.
When you deglaze a pan, you are simply adding liquid to a hot pan. This room temperature or cold liquid reacts with the hot pan, releasing any caramelized or stuck-on bits from the bottom of the pan.
I like to serve this chicken with rice or mashed potatoes and steamed veggies!
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Brine your chicken thighs in a mixture of water and salt for about 20 to 30 minutes to get the most flavorful and tender chicken.
- To avoid overcooking your chicken, having an instant-read thermometer handy is handy for quickly testing if it’s completely cooked.
Make Ahead Instructions
You can make Cajun butter chicken up to 1 day ahead of when you plan to serve it. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to enjoy.
Storage Instructions
Store leftover Cajun butter chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a skillet set over medium-low until warmed through.
Freezing Instructions
Freeze Cajun butter chicken in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Substitutions
- You can use boneless, skinless chicken breasts instead of thighs.
- If you don’t have Cajun seasoning, you can make your own by combining 3 parts paprika, 2 parts kosher salt, 2 parts garlic powder, 1 part ground black pepper, 1 part ground white pepper, 1 part onion powder, 1 part dried oregano, 1 part cayenne pepper, and ½ part dried thyme.
- You can use all butter and no oil, if you prefer.
- In place of the chicken broth, you can use vegetable broth.
Serving Suggestions
Serve Cajun butter chicken with steamed or roasted vegetable and mashed potatoes or white rice.
#1 Chicken Searing Tip
If your chicken seems to be sticking to the pan, leave it for another minute or so. It will naturally release when it is ready to be flipped.
Say goodbye to boring chicken! This Cajun butter chicken will knock your socks off. How did your chicken turn out? Let us know in the comments below!
If you’ve made this recipe, please be sure to let us know by leaving a star rating or a comment below. Enjoy!
Cajun Butter Chicken Recipe
This cajun butter chicken turns an ordinary piece of chicken into a tasty, flavor-packed main dish that is seared to perfection!
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Total Time : 20 minutes
Instructions
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In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, Cajun seasoning, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels and sprinkle them with the seasoning mixture.
2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, 2 teaspoons brown sugar, 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning, ½ teaspoon ground paprika, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
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Melt together 1 tablespoon of the butter and the oil to a large skillet set over medium-high heat.
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, 2 tablespoons olive oil
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Sear the chicken for 5-7 minutes per side, or until cooked through to 165°F. Transfer the chicken to a plate.
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Reduce the heat to medium and melt the remaining butter.
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Add the garlic and sauté for 30 seconds, until fragrant, then add the lime juice and chicken broth.
4 cloves garlic, 1 tablespoon lime juice, ⅓ cup low-sodium chicken broth
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Deglaze the pan, scraping up the brown bits from the bottom of the pan, and let the sauce simmer for 1-2 minutes, whisking often.
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Return the chicken to the skillet and spoon the sauce over top, allowing it to just rewarm the chicken before serving topped with parsley, if desired.
Fresh parsley
Notes
- You can use boneless, skinless chicken breasts instead of thighs.
- If you don’t have Cajun seasoning, you can make your own by combining 3 parts paprika, 2 parts kosher salt, 2 parts garlic powder, 1 part ground black pepper, 1 part ground white pepper, 1 part onion powder, 1 part dried oregano, 1 part cayenne pepper, and ½ part dried thyme.
- You can use all butter and no oil, if you prefer.
- In place of the chicken broth, you can use vegetable broth.
- If your chicken seems to be sticking to the pan, leave it for another minute or so. It will naturally release when it is ready to be flipped.
Storage: Store Cajun butter chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Nutrition Facts
Cajun Butter Chicken Recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 427
Calories from Fat 225
% Daily Value*
Fat 25g38%
Saturated Fat 9g56%
Trans Fat 0.4g
Polyunsaturated Fat 3g
Monounsaturated Fat 11g
Cholesterol 238mg79%
Sodium 356mg15%
Potassium 617mg18%
Carbohydrates 4g1%
Fiber 0.4g2%
Sugar 2g2%
Protein 45g90%
Vitamin A 689IU14%
Vitamin C 2mg2%
Calcium 34mg3%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.