Description
A rich and flavorful pasta dish featuring tender chicken, smoky chipotle peppers, and creamy cheese sauce. Perfect for a quick and comforting weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz pasta (penne, rigatoni, or fusilli)
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or cubed
- 2–3 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon adobo sauce
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup low sodium chicken broth
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh cilantro, chopped (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain and set aside.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and minced garlic, cooking until fragrant and softened—about 3 minutes.
- Stir in the chopped chipotle peppers and adobo sauce. Cook for 1 minute to release the smoky flavors.
- Pour in the chicken broth and heavy cream, stirring to combine. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat to low.
- Gradually whisk in the shredded cheddar cheese until fully melted and the sauce is smooth. If desired, stir in the grated Parmesan for added flavor.
- Fold in the cooked chicken, ensuring it’s fully coated in the sauce. Let it warm through for about 3-4 minutes.
- Add the cooked pasta to the skillet, tossing gently to coat. If the sauce is too thick, use the reserved pasta water to thin it out to your desired consistency.
- Taste and adjust with salt and pepper as needed. Garnish with fresh cilantro if using, and serve immediately.
Notes
[‘Cook pasta al dente as it will continue cooking slightly when mixed with the sauce.’, ‘Adjust spice level by reducing chipotle peppers or omitting adobo sauce.’, ‘Use freshly grated cheese for a smoother sauce.’, ‘Reserve pasta water to thin out the sauce if needed.’, ‘Cook the sauce on low heat to prevent splitting.’]
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 20
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 25
Keywords: Smoky Chipotle Chicken Pasta, creamy pasta, chicken pasta, chipotle pasta, weeknight dinner, comfort food, spicy pasta