My delicious spicy chipotle chicken pasta is amazing! It’s full of strong flavors and tastes just right.
The juicy chicken mixes perfectly with the pasta and a smooth, cheesy, creamy sauce.
If you enjoyed this meaty pasta, you’ll love my chicken fajita pasta, chicken pasta and Italian chicken pasta.
Spicy Chipotle Chicken Pasta
This dish is one of my favorite 30-minute meals, easy and quick!
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Chipotle Chicken Pasta Ingredients
- Penne pasta - It’s great for soaking up the creamy, spicy sauce.
- Olive oil - Used for cooking, it adds a rich flavor and healthy fats.
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts - They cook quickly and go well with the spicy chipotle. You can also use chicken thighs.
- Onion - Adds a touch of sweetness and extra flavor.
- Garlic cloves - Give the sauce a strong, pleasant aroma.
- Red bell pepper - Adds a sweet crunch and a splash of color.
- Canned diced tomatoes - They form the base of the sauce and give a tangy flavor.
- Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce - Provide a smoky, spicy kick.
- Adobo sauce - Makes the smoky flavor stronger and adds more heat.
- Ground cumin - Gives a warm, earthy taste.
- Dried oregano - A classic ingredient for flavoring the sauce.
- Chicken broth - Helps keep the sauce the right thickness.
- Heavy cream - Makes the sauce creamy and rich, like Alfredo.
- Cilantro - Fresh, chopped cilantro brightens up the sauce.
- Grated Parmesan cheese - Adds the perfect cheesy touch to the chipotle chicken pasta!
📋 You can find the full ingredient list in the Recipe Card below the article.
How to Make this Chipotle Chicken Pasta Recipe
Cook the pasta: Boil the pasta in a large pot of salted water until it’s done. Drain the pasta when it’s cooked.
Cook the chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
Add the chicken and cook until it’s brown and cooked through, about 7-10 minutes. Take the chicken out of the skillet and set it aside.
Sauté the onion and garlic: In the same skillet, add a bit more olive oil if needed.
Cook the diced onion until it’s soft and see-through, about 3-4 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
Cook the bell pepper: Add the diced red bell pepper to the skillet and cook for another 2-3 minutes.
Prepare the sauce: Stir in the diced tomatoes, chopped chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, ground cumin, dried oregano, salt, and pepper.
Cook for 2-3 minutes.
Add liquids: Mix in the chicken broth and heavy cream. Let it simmer.
Combine chicken and sauce: Put the cooked chicken back into the skillet.
Let it simmer for another 5-7 minutes so the flavors mix well.
Adjust seasoning: Taste the sauce and add more salt and pepper if needed.
Combine pasta and sauce: Add the pasta to the skillet and toss everything together until the pasta is coated with the sauce.
Finish and serve: Sprinkle chopped cilantro and grated Parmesan cheese on top before serving.
🍗 Make Next: Spicy Rigatoni
What to Serve with Chipotle Chicken Pasta
I recommend serving this recipe with a light, fresh and crunchy salad like this Mediterranean Cucumber Salad or Cabbage Salad.
Expert Tips for the Best Chicken Chipotle Pasta
- Spice it up: If you like your dish milder, use just one chipotle pepper and less adobo sauce. For extra heat, add another chipotle pepper or a splash of hot sauce.
- Make it richer: If you want a creamier sauce, you can use more heavy cream or add a bit of cream cheese. This will make the sauce thicker.
- Adjust consistency: If the sauce gets too thick, add a little of the leftover pasta water to thin it out.
- Perfectly al dente pasta: To keep your penne al dente, cook it 1-2 minutes less than the package directions say. It will finish cooking when you mix it with the sauce.
- Consistent chicken pieces: Cut your chicken into bite-sized pieces so they cook evenly. This way, no pieces will be overcooked or undercooked.
- Layer the flavors: When cooking onions and garlic, let the onions become soft and see-through before adding the garlic. This stops the garlic from burning and tasting bitter.
🍗 Make Next: Chicken Al Pastor
Variations
- Pasta swaps: You can use any pasta shape you like, such as fusilli, rigatoni, or spaghetti, instead of penne.
- Vegetarian chipotle pasta: Swap the chicken for your favorite veggies like mushrooms, zucchini, and spinach. Black beans or chickpeas can add extra protein.
- Add sausage: Try using sliced chorizo or spicy Italian sausage instead of chicken. It gives a rich, smoky flavor.
- Spinach add-in: Toss a handful of fresh spinach into the skillet during the last few minutes of cooking. It wilts quickly and adds a healthy touch.
- Lemon or lime: Squeeze in fresh lemon juice and zest, or use lime. It will brighten up the sauce.
Recommended Equipment
Storage Instructions
- To store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- To freeze: Put cooled pasta in a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months.
- To thaw: Move the frozen pasta to the fridge and let it thaw overnight.
- To reheat: Warm the pasta in a skillet over medium heat. Add a splash of chicken broth or cream to keep the sauce creamy.
More Chicken Recipes
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Recipe Card
Spicy Chipotle Chicken Pasta
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INGREDIENTS
- 8 ounces penne pasta
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- ½ cup onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes
- 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, chopped
- 1 teaspoon adobo sauce, from the chipotle peppers can
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro, for garnish
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese, for topping
INSTRUCTIONS
- Cook the penne: Boil the penne pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.8 ounces penne pasta
- Cook the chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced chicken and cook until browned and fully cooked, about 7-10 minutes. Remove chicken and set aside.2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 boneless
- Sauté onions and garlic: In the same skillet, add a bit more olive oil if needed. Add diced onion and cook until translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 more minute.½ cup onion, 3 cloves garlic
- Cook bell pepper: Add diced red bell pepper to the skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes.1 red bell pepper
- Prepare the sauce: Stir in diced tomatoes, chopped chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, ground cumin, dried oregano, salt, and pepper. Cook for 2-3 minutes.1 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes, 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, 1 teaspoon adobo sauce, 1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, salt and pepper to taste
- Add liquids: Mix in chicken broth and heavy cream, then bring to a simmer.1 cup heavy cream, 1 cup chicken broth
- Combine chicken and sauce: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet and let it simmer for 5-7 minutes to blend the flavors.
- Adjust seasoning: Taste and add more salt or pepper if needed.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Add the cooked penne to the skillet and toss until the pasta is well coated with the sauce.
- Finish and serve: Sprinkle chopped cilantro and grated Parmesan cheese on top before serving.¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro, ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Enjoy: Serve hot and enjoy your delicious Chipotle Chicken Pasta!
NOTES
- This pasta makes about 4-6 servings.
- To store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- To freeze: Put cooled pasta in a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months.
- To thaw: Move the frozen pasta to the fridge and let it thaw overnight.
- To reheat: Warm the pasta in a skillet over medium heat. Add a splash of chicken broth or cream to keep the sauce creamy.
ADD YOUR OWN PRIVATE NOTES
NUTRITION
Note: Nutrition information is estimated and varies based on the products used.
Full Nutrition Disclaimer can be found here.
Chipotle Chicken Pasta: Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can use pre-cooked chicken like rotisserie chicken. Just add it to the skillet during the last simmering step to warm it through.
Yes, definitely! Adding shredded cheese like cheddar, mozzarella, or Monterey Jack can make the sauce richer and more flavorful
Chipotle chicken has a smoky, moderate heat but isn’t extremely spicy. It offers a balanced kick without being overwhelming.
Chipotle chicken has a creamy texture with a mild spiciness, delivering rich and robust flavors.
Smoked paprika and ancho chili powder provide a similar smoky flavor with less heat. For more spice, mix them with a bit of cayenne pepper.
Dave C.
Looks good, but seems pricey with all those ingredients. Any tips for making it cheaper?
Julia
enjoy this easy and quick chipotle chicken pasta recipe!