This spicy chicken chipotle pasta is all you need for a satisfying dinner. Tender chicken and crisp veggies are coated in the warm, smoky flavors of chipotle pepper and a creamy parmesan sauce for the perfect blend of flavors. It's an easy pasta recipe you'll be making on repeat!
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Believe me when I say that my homemade version is better than Cheesecake Factory. It's perfectly rich and cheesy with a spicy kick and easy to make in just 25 minutes. Serve it with my house salad or roasted carrots and asparagus, and you'll have a meal worthy of a restaurant!
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📖Why My Recipe Works
- Bold Flavor- My recipe uses significantly more chipotle than other recipes. It adds so much flavor to the pasta, and most recipes I've tried don't use enough of it. Plus, I added bacon for a fun twist.
- No Added Sugar- I don't add sugar or honey because the pasta already gets its sweetness from peas and red bell peppers. Not adding sugar also highlights the flavor of chipotle pepper even more.
🧾Ingredient Notes
- Chicken- Use boneless, skinless chicken breasts, tenders, or chicken thighs.
- Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce- Mince three whole peppers and add a tablespoon of sauce. Adjust the spice level according to your preference!
- Penne Pasta- You can switch it up and use bowtie, spaghetti, or linguini. Or better yet, use my homemade gluten-free pasta recipe. Cook the pasta according to the instructions on the box.
- Heavy Cream- For a rich and creamy sauce, do not substitute milk.
- Parmesan Cheese- Use freshly grated for the best flavor and for an even melt.
- Garlic- Substitute with garlic powder. Use ¼ teaspoon per clove.
- Bacon- Try pancetta or a little diced ham.
- Diced Red Bell Pepper- You can use any color of bell pepper that you have.
- White Onion- Substitute with yellow onions or shallots.
- Frozen Peas- Use fresh peas or frozen.
- Fresh Parsley- Fresh herbs like cilantro or basil will also work.
💭 Variations
- Use Other Protein- While this creamy pasta recipe traditionally uses chicken, you can add or replace it with other proteins like shrimp or sausage.
- Add Greens- Want more veggies? Toss in a few handfuls of spinach at the end.
- Swap Veggies- Not a fan of peas? Try blanched green beans or asparagus instead.
⏲️How to Make Chicken Chipotle Pasta
When cooking the chicken pieces, make sure each side is seared and golden before turning. Use a meat thermometer to check if the internal temperature reaches 165F.
You can let the veggies sit for a few minutes without mixing for a slightly charred flavor. Add the garlic and chipotle peppers at the end of the sauteeing so you don't burn the garlic.
To make the sauce, turn the heat to low before adding the heavy cream. Let it simmer for a few minutes to thicken then remove it from heat. It should easily coat the back of a spoon.
Removing the pan from heat helps the parmesan cheese melt smoothly without clumping. Add it slowly and stir continuously until the sauce is smooth.
Toss pasta, chicken, and sauce together and ensure every piece is well-coated.
Season to taste and garnish with fresh parsley before serving.
🥗What to Serve with Spicy Chicken Pasta
Serve this spicy chipotle chicken pasta with a side of gluten-free garlic bread or cornbread, so you have something to soak up the delicious chipotle sauce with.
The flavors of this pasta go well with Mexican street corn or avocado corn salad, or you can serve it with a simple green salad, too. You can also pair it with roasted zucchini slices for a complete meal.
Expert Tips
- If the sauce becomes too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water to adjust the consistency.
- Place the cooked bacon on a slotted spoon or paper towel to remove excess oil.
- Don't overcook the pasta. Cook it just al dente, because it will cook a bit more when added to the sauce.
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📖 Recipe Card
Spicy Chicken Chipotle Pasta
Ingredients
- 4 pieces bacon diced
- 1 pound chicken breast boneless and skinless
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt divided
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 red bell pepper diced
- ½ medium white onion diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 3 whole chipotle peppers in adobo sauce minced plus 1 Tablespoon of sauce
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1¾ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 12 ounces penne pasta cooked
- ½ cup fresh parsley minced
Instructions
- Add the bacon to a large saute pan over medium heat. Cook the bacon until crispy. Move to a plate with a slotted spoon. Do not throw away the grease.4 pieces bacon
- Cut the chicken into 1 inch cubes. Season with salt and pepper. Add the chicken to pan. Cook for 7 to 10 minutes, turning frequently, until cooked through. Move the fully cooked chicken to a plate and set aside. Do not wash the pan.1 pound chicken breast, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Add the onion and bell pepper. Saute until softened about 6 minutes. Adding a little oil if needed. Add the garlic and chipotle peppers with the adobe sauce. Cook for 30 seconds.1 red bell pepper, ½ medium white onion, 3 cloves garlic, 3 whole chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
- Stir in the heavy cream. Bring to a simmer and cook on low for 5 to 6 minutes.1 cup heavy cream
- Remove the pan from the heat, gradually add the cheese, and stir until the parmesan is completely melted and the sauce is smooth.1¾ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- Stir in the cooked chicken, frozen peas, and cooked pasta, toss to coat. The peas should quickly warm through. Top with the parsley and serve.12 ounces penne pasta, ½ cup fresh parsley, 1 cup frozen peas
Notes
- Use fresh ground, not shredded parmesan or shelf-stable parmesan from a can. This will give the sauce a silky smooth texture.
- While the bacon is cooking bring your pasta water to a boil and prep your chicken.
- Use both a canned chipotle pepper PLUS the additional adobe sauce.
- You can use anywhere from 12 to 16 ounces of pasta in this recipe.
- If the sauce is too thick you can thin with a little pasta water.
Griselda Wafford says
Bài viết này thúc đẩy sự phản chiếu một cách tinh tế.