Spicy Chicken Chipotle Pasta: A Flavor-Packed Weeknight Delight

This creamy, spicy chicken chipotle pasta is an absolute flavor bomb. Imagine perfectly cooked penne pasta enveloped in a velvety, cheesy sauce that’s both spicy and subtly sweet, thanks to the magic of chipotle peppers and a touch of honey. Tender chicken pieces and a medley of fresh vegetables complete this dish, making it a satisfying and incredibly delicious meal. One bite and you’ll be hooked on this chipotle chicken pasta recipe!

Why You’ll Love This Spicy Chicken Pasta

This spicy chicken chipotle pasta recipe isn’t just about incredible taste; it’s also designed for ease and convenience. It’s a fantastic option for busy weeknights when you crave a home-cooked meal without spending hours in the kitchen. Here’s why this recipe is destined to become a family favorite:

Quick and Effortless: Time is precious, especially during the week. This recipe comes together in just about 35 minutes, making it faster than ordering takeout and suitable for cooks of all levels. It’s the perfect solution for a flavorful and fast weeknight dinner.
Perfectly Balanced Flavors: Don’t let the “spicy” in the name scare you away! The heat from the chipotle adobo sauce is beautifully balanced by the richness of the cream and parmesan cheese, while a touch of honey adds a delightful sweetness. This creates a complex and harmonious flavor profile that’s both comforting and exciting.
Highly Adaptable Recipe: Flexibility is key, and this recipe delivers. You can easily customize it to your liking. Adjust the spice level by controlling the amount of adobo sauce, swap chicken for other proteins, or go vegetarian by adding more vegetables. This spicy chicken chipotle pasta is a versatile base for your culinary creativity.

What You’ll Need

Before you start cooking this amazing spicy chicken pasta, gather these key ingredients. Refer to the recipe card below for precise measurements.

Penne Pasta: Penne is ideal for capturing the creamy sauce, but feel free to use other short pasta shapes like rotini, fusilli, or rigatoni. For a gluten-free option, choose your preferred gluten-free pasta.
Olive Oil: Used for sautéing the vegetables and chicken.
Bell Peppers (Yellow and Red): Add sweetness, color, and a slight crunch.
Yellow Onion: Forms the aromatic base of the sauce.
Garlic: Essential for flavor depth.
Asparagus: Adds a fresh, green element. Zucchini or broccoli are excellent substitutes if you prefer.
Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast: Provides lean protein. Chicken thighs can be used for a richer flavor.
Kosher Salt, Black Pepper, and Paprika: Basic seasonings to enhance the flavors.
Honey: Adds a touch of sweetness to balance the spice.
Lemon Juice: Brightens the sauce and adds acidity.
Heavy Cream: Creates the signature creamy texture. Half-and-half can be used for a lighter sauce, but heavy cream is recommended for the best richness.
Adobo Sauce: The star ingredient for the chipotle flavor! You’ll find it in a can of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce.
Grated Parmesan Cheese: Adds salty, savory, and cheesy notes. A Mexican cheese blend or pepper jack can also be used for different flavor profiles.
Frozen Peas: Adds a pop of color and sweetness, easily stirred in at the end.

How to Make Spicy Chicken Chipotle Pasta

This easy pasta recipe is ready in just 35 minutes – quicker than waiting for delivery! Follow these simple steps to create your own delicious spicy chicken chipotle pasta. For detailed instructions, check out the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Cook the Pasta: Begin by cooking the penne pasta according to the package directions until al dente. Remember to salt the pasta water generously! Once cooked, drain the pasta and set it aside.
Sauté the Vegetables: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced bell peppers and onion and sauté for about 3-5 minutes, until they begin to soften. Next, add the minced garlic and asparagus and sauté for another 2-3 minutes, until the asparagus is tender-crisp. Remove the vegetables from the skillet and set aside.

Season the Chicken: In a bowl, toss the cubed chicken breast with kosher salt, black pepper, and paprika, ensuring each piece is well coated with the seasonings.

Cook the Chicken: Add more olive oil to the skillet and sear the seasoned chicken for 2-3 minutes per side, until nicely browned. Continue cooking until the chicken is cooked through and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
Add Honey and Adobo Sauce: Pour honey over the cooked chicken and stir to coat evenly. Cook for about 1 minute, allowing the honey to slightly caramelize. Then, stir in the adobo sauce, infusing the chicken with that signature smoky chipotle flavor.
Create the Creamy Chipotle Sauce: Pour in the lemon juice and heavy cream, stirring to combine with the chicken and adobo sauce. Add in the grated parmesan cheese and frozen peas. Bring the sauce to a simmer and cook for 2-3 minutes, allowing it to slightly thicken and the cheese to melt into a smooth, creamy consistency.

Combine and Serve: Return the sautéed vegetables to the skillet with the sauce. Add the cooked penne pasta and toss everything together until the pasta is evenly coated in the delicious spicy chipotle sauce. Serve immediately, garnished with extra parmesan cheese and fresh parsley, if desired.

Recipe Tips & Variations

Mastering this creamy, flavor-packed spicy chicken pasta is easy with a few helpful tips and creative variations. Here are some ways to ensure your dish is perfect every time and to customize it to your preferences:

Salt Your Pasta Water: Seasoning the pasta water is crucial. As pasta cooks, it absorbs water, and salted water infuses it with flavor from the inside out, preventing a bland final dish.
Avoid Overcooking the Pasta: Cook the penne to al dente. Since the pasta will simmer briefly in the sauce at the end, slightly undercooking it ensures it doesn’t become mushy.
Reserve Pasta Water: Before draining the pasta, reserve about a cup of the pasta water. This starchy water is a fantastic tool to adjust the sauce consistency. If the sauce becomes too thick, or if it’s not coating the pasta well, add a splash of pasta water to loosen it up and create a silky texture.
Control the Spice Level: If you’re sensitive to spice, start with half the amount of adobo sauce and taste as you go. You can always add more, but you can’t take it away!
Protein Swaps: Chicken is fantastic, but feel free to experiment with other proteins. Turkey, thinly sliced beef, shrimp, or even plant-based chicken substitutes would work wonderfully. Ground chicken, turkey, or beef are also great budget-friendly options.
Vegetable Variations: Customize the vegetable mix to your liking. Zucchini, summer squash, broccoli florets, green beans, or even spinach are delicious additions or substitutions for asparagus and bell peppers.
Cheese Alternatives: While parmesan is classic, try using a Mexican cheese blend for a richer, meltier cheese pull, or pepper jack for an extra spicy kick.

Serving Suggestions

This spicy chicken chipotle pasta is a complete meal on its own, packed with carbs, protein, vegetables, and fats. However, if you want to create a more elaborate dinner, consider these delicious side dishes:

Garlic Bread: Classic and always a crowd-pleaser, perfect for soaking up the creamy chipotle sauce.
Side Salad: A fresh green salad with a light vinaigrette provides a refreshing contrast to the richness of the pasta.
Roasted Vegetables: Roasted broccoli, Brussels sprouts, or asparagus complement the pasta beautifully.
Cornbread: A slightly sweet cornbread is a comforting side that balances the spice.

How to Store Leftovers

If you happen to have any leftover spicy chicken chipotle pasta (though it’s so good, leftovers are rare!), let it cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container. Store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

To reheat, allow the pasta to come to room temperature slightly before gently reheating it in a skillet over low heat. You might need to add a splash of cream or milk to loosen the sauce, as it tends to thicken upon refrigeration. Stir occasionally until heated through. Avoid overheating, as it can dry out the pasta and sauce.

More Easy Pasta Recipes

If you love pasta as much as we do, you’re in for a treat! Pasta is incredibly versatile, and there are endless delicious combinations to explore. While this spicy chicken chipotle pasta is a top favorite, here are a few other easy pasta recipes you might enjoy:

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5 from 1 vote

Spicy Chicken Chipotle Pasta

By: Julie Chiou

A smooth, cheesy, spicy-yet-sweet sauce loaded with big chipotle flavor coats al dente penne pasta, tender pieces of chicken, and an assortment of veggies.

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes minutes

Servings: 6 servings

Equipment

Ingredients

1 pound (454 g) penne pasta, cooked according to package directions
¼ cup (59 ml) olive oil, divided
1 small yellow bell pepper, diced
1 small red bell pepper, diced
½ cup (80 g) yellow onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 ½ cups (201 g) asparagus, cut into 1” pieces
1 pound (454 g) boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into 1” cubes
1 teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon paprika
¼ cup (85 g) honey
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 cups (473 ml) heavy cream
3 tablespoons adobo sauce, from a can of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
1 cup (100 g) grated parmesan cheese + more for topping
1 cup (145 g) frozen peas

Instructions

Cook pasta according to package directions in salted water. Drain and set aside.

1 pound (454 g) penne pasta
Heat half of the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the bell peppers and onion and sauté for 3-5 minutes, until softened.

¼ cup (59 ml) olive oil, 1 small yellow bell pepper, 1 small red bell pepper, ½ cup (80 g) yellow onion
Add in the garlic and asparagus and continue cooking for 2-3 minutes.

2 cloves garlic, 1 ½ cups (201 g) asparagus
Remove the vegetables from the skillet using a slotted spoon.
In a bowl, toss together the chicken, salt, pepper and paprika.

1 pound (454 g) boneless skinless chicken breast, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon paprika
Add in the remaining olive oil to the skillet. Add in the chicken and sear for 2-3 minutes on each side, cooking until the chicken is cooked through (165 °F (74 °C) internal temperature).
Add in the honey and stir well to coat. Continue cooking for 1 minute.

¼ cup (85 g) honey
Stir in the lemon juice, heavy cream, adobo sauce, 1 cup of grated parmesan and frozen peas. Bring to a simmer and let it cook down for 2-3 minutes, then add back in the vegetables and the cooked pasta. Stir well to coat.

2 tablespoons lemon juice, 2 cups (473 ml) heavy cream, 3 tablespoons adobo sauce, 1 cup (100 g) grated parmesan cheese + more for topping, 1 cup (145 g) frozen peas
Remove from heat and serve warm with more parmesan and (optional) fresh parsley.

Nutrition

Serving: 1bowl, Calories: 899kcal, Carbohydrates: 83g, Protein: 36g, Fat: 48g, Saturated Fat: 23g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 17g, Trans Fat: 0.01g, Cholesterol: 153mg, Sodium: 2341mg, Potassium: 822mg, Fiber: 6g, Sugar: 20g

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This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition information can vary for a variety of reasons. For the most precise nutritional data use your preferred nutrition calculator based on the actual ingredients you used in the recipe.

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