Creamy Chipotle Chicken Pasta
This easy Cheescake Factory copycat Spicy Chipotle Chicken Pasta is perfect for family dinners - packed with tender chicken and colorful vegetables in a spicy, creamy, cheesy sauce!
Recipe Makes: 6
Approximate Cost: $3
Ingredients
- 1 pound penne pasta
- 1 pound chicken breast (cut into bite-sized pieces)
- salt and pepper
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 yellow onion (diced)
- 1 red bell pepper (chopped)
- ¾ pound asparagus (rough chopped)
- ¾ cup peas (if from frozen, thaw for a few minutes first)
- 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- 2 cups heavy cream
- ¼ cup adobo sauce from can of chipotle peppers in adobo (omit peppers, just use sauce they’re in)
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 cup freshly grated parmesan (plus extra for serving)
- fresh chopped cilantro for garnish
Instructions
- Cook the pasta in salted water according to the packet directions, just to al dente. Start checking for doneness around the 12 minute mark.
- Season the chicken heavily with salt and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon of neutral oil in skillet over medium high heat. Add the chicken and cook untouched for 1 minute, then stir and continue cooking (and stirring) for another 1 minute or until browned on all sides and the chicken is just cooked through. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
- Add the onion and bell pepper. Sauté until tender and the onion is translucent, about 8 to 10 minutes. Add in the minced garlic, asparagus and peas. Stir and cook for a further few minutes.
- Add the heavy cream, adobo sauce, and paprika. Stir until combined before bringing to a rapid simmer for a minute. Then add the parmesan, mix, and simmer for a few more minutes until the sauce thickens.
- Add in pasta and chicken and stir to mix well. Divide into serving bowls then garnish with more parmesan and top with cilantro.
Recipe Notes
Switch up the protein to suit different tastes: Diced pork, shrimp and firm tofu would all work well with the vegetables and sauce! If you choose tofu, make sure you use a vegetarian-friendly hard cheese if this matters to you.
Use pre-cooked chicken to speed things up: If you meal prep cooked chicken at the weekend or at the start of the week, you can have this Cajun pasta dish on the table in under 30 minutes.
Asparagus preparation: We used the thin kind of asparagus in this recipe, if you can only get the thicker stems thickly slice your asparagus on the diagonal to help it cook at the same rate as the other vegetables.
Recipe costs provided are approximate. Actual cost per recipe & serving will vary by location, store, brand, etc. Approximate cost shown does not include costs for any optional ingredients.
Nutrition
Calories: 772kcal | Protein: 35g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 60mg | Sodium: 363mg | Potassium: 707mg | Total Carbs: 66g | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 6g | Net Carbs: 60g | Vitamin C: 39mg | Calcium: 245mg