When you don't feel like cooking but need to feed your family, pasta dishes can become your best friend. It's ready in no time, and kids love it!
This Chipotle Chicken Pasta recipe is not only ready in under 30 minutes but is also packed with flavors and has a spicy kick that's not too overwhelming, yet brightens the dish and brings it from good to great. The creamy chipotle sauce perfectly balances heat and richness, while tender chicken and fresh vegetables make this a complete meal that's impressive enough for guests but easy enough for weeknights. If you're a fan of creamy pastas with a spicy kick, this dish can easily become your new favorite!
For a veggie-based chicken salad recipe without pasta, check out our hot honey chicken salad recipe with spinach.
Key Highlights
- Ready in just 30 minutes - perfect for busy weeknight dinners
- Customizable spice level - easily adjust the heat to suit your preference
- Packed with protein and vegetables for a well-balanced meal
- Meal-prep friendly - stores well in the refrigerator for 3-4 days
- Restaurant-quality flavor with simple, accessible ingredients
- Versatile recipe that works with different pasta shapes and proteins
Ingredients
Chicken breasts: The protein foundation of this dish. They cook quickly and soak up the marinade beautifully. You can substitute with chicken thighs for even juicier results.
Honey and lime: Creates a sweet-tangy marinade that balances the spicy elements perfectly. The lime also adds brightness to cut through the rich sauce.
Pasta: The hearty base that carries all the delicious flavors. We recommend penne pasta for this recipe as the ridges and hollow center capture the creamy chipotle sauce, but any medium-sized pasta works well.
Olive oil: Used for cooking the chicken and vegetables. Choose a good-quality olive oil for the best flavor.
Bell peppers: Add sweetness, color, and texture. Try using a combination of red bell pepper and yellow bell pepper for visual appeal and slightly different flavor profiles.
Onion: Provides aromatic depth and sweetness when cooked. Yellow onion works best in this recipe, becoming mellow and slightly sweet during the cooking process.
Garlic: Essential for creating depth of flavor. Fresh garlic cloves deliver the most authentic taste, but garlic powder can work in a pinch.
Spinach: Adds color, nutrition, and a slight earthy flavor that complements the spicy sauce beautifully. It's one of our go-to recipes in early spring using home-grown spinach leaves.
Radish: Brings a peppery crunch and beautiful color contrast to the finished dish.
Heavy cream: Creates the luxurious base for our creamy chipotle sauce.
Chipotle mayonnaise: The star ingredient that provides that distinctive smoky heat. If you can't find chipotle mayo, you can substitute with regular mayo plus chipotle peppers in adobo sauce.
Smoked paprika: Enhances the smoky flavor profile without adding extra heat.
Salt and ground black pepper: Essential seasonings that bring all the flavors together.
Parmesan cheese: Adds savory depth and helps thicken the sauce. Use freshly grated for the best flavor and texture.
Fresh parsley: Brightens the dish with color and a fresh herbal note to balance the rich sauce.
Directions
1. Prepare the marinade by combining 1 tablespoon of olive oil, salt, ground black pepper, and the juice of ½ lime. Rub the chicken with the marinade and set it aside until it's time to fry.
It's best to allow the chicken to marinate for at least 15 minutes. For larger chicken breasts, we recommend slicing them into thinner pieces to ensure the marinade penetrates the meat more thoroughly.
2. Cook the pasta by bringing a large pot of water to a rolling boil, then adding salt and penne pasta. Cook according to package directions until al dente, usually 9-11 minutes. Drain pasta, but do not rinse.
3. While pasta cooks, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add marinated chicken and sear for 5-7 minutes on each side (depending on the thickness of the chicken pieces) until golden brown.
Add honey and make sure all chicken pieces are covered in it. Cook for 1 minute, stirring occasionally. Remove chicken and set aside.
4. In the same skillet, add another tablespoon of olive oil. Add minced garlic, cook for 1 minute, then add 1 chopped onion and cook for additional 3-4 minutes until translucent.
5. Add chopped bell pepper and cook for another 3-4 minutes until they begin to soften.
6. Add fresh spinach and stir until just wilted, about 1 minute.
7. Slice the cooked chicken and add it back to the skillet.
8. Reduce heat to medium and add heavy cream, smoked paprika powder, salt, and chipotle mayonnaise. Stir to combine.
9. Allow sauce to simmer for 1-2 minutes, then add half of the grated parmesan cheese, stirring until melted. Save the rest parm for serving.
10. Remove from the heat and add the drained pasta. Toss well to combine.
11. Garnish with thinly sliced radishes, additional grated parmesan, and chopped fresh parsley.
Serving Tips
This spicy chipotle chicken pasta makes for an impressive yet easy dinner option that's perfect for date nights or family meals. Serve it with a simple side salad and crusty bread to soak up every last bit of that delicious creamy chipotle sauce!
If you enjoy this recipe, you'll also love our other pasta creations like our Chicken Julienne with creamy sauce, Gluten-Free Chicken Meatballs that pair beautifully with pasta, or our Stuffed Chicken with Lemon and Cilantro that can be served alongside a simpler pasta preparation.
To make this meal even more special, warm your serving plates in the oven at a low temperature before plating. The warm plates will help keep this creamy pasta at the perfect temperature while you enjoy every bite!
If sauce seems too thick, add some pasta water a tablespoon at a time until desired consistency is reached.
Frequently Asked Questions
The spice level is moderate as written, with a pleasant warmth rather than overwhelming heat. Heavy cream helps balance the spiciness. If you prefer a milder version, start with 2 tablespoons of chipotle mayonnaise and adjust to taste. For extra heat, add a diced chipotle pepper in adobo sauce to the cream mixture.
Yes! This is a great meal prep recipe. Prepare as directed and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. When reheating, add a splash of chicken broth, heavy cream, or milk to refresh the sauce, as it will thicken when refrigerated.
If you can't find chipotle mayonnaise, you can easily make your own by combining regular mayonnaise with minced chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (adjust to your preferred spice level). Alternatively, you can use sour cream mixed with chipotle powder and smoked paprika.
Absolutely! While penne pasta works wonderfully because the ridges and hollow center capture the creamy chipotle sauce, you can substitute it with other medium-sized pasta shapes like fusilli, rotini, or farfalle. For a lower-carb option, you could even use zucchini noodles, though you'd want to add them just before serving to prevent them from becoming too soft.
Spicy Chipotle Chicken Pasta Recipe With Spinach
Ingredients
- 2 medium chicken breasts
- 3 cups uncooked pasta (penne or similar)
- 3-4 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ bell pepper
- 1 small onion
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1-1.5 cup spinach
- 3-4 radishes
- 1 cup (250 mL) heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon chipotle mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoon salt (incl. 1 teaspoon for pasta water)
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley or other herbs
- ½ lime (juice only)
Instructions
- Prepare the marinade by combining 1 tablespoon of olive oil, 1 teaspoon of salt, ½ teaspoon of ground black pepper, and the juice of ½ lime. Rub the chicken with the marinade and set it aside until it's time to fry. For larger chicken breasts, we recommend slicing them into thinner pieces to ensure the marinade penetrates the meat more thoroughly.
- Cook the pasta in a salted water according to package directions until al dente, usually 9-11 minutes. Drain, but do not rinse.
- While pasta cooks, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet, add marinated chicken and sear for 5-7 minutes on each side (depending on the thickness of the chicken pieces) until golden brown. Add honey and make sure all chicken pieces are covered in it. Cook for 1 minute, stirring occasionally. Remove chicken and set aside.
- In the same skillet, add more olive oil and minced garlic, cook for 1 minute, then add 1 chopped onion and cook for additional 3-4 minutes until translucent.
- Add chopped bell pepper and cook for another 3-4 minutes until they begin to soften.
- Add fresh spinach and stir until just wilted, about 1 minute.
- Slice the cooked chicken and add it back to the skillet. Reduce heat to medium and add heavy cream, smoked paprika powder, salt, and chipotle mayonnaise. Stir to combine.
- Allow sauce to simmer for 1-2 minutes, then add half of the grated parmesan cheese, stirring until melted.
- Remove from the heat and add the drained pasta. Toss well to combine.
- Garnish with thinly sliced radishes, additional grated parmesan, and chopped fresh parsley.
Notes
- If sauce seems too thick, add some pasta water a tablespoon at a time until desired consistency is reached.
- t's best to allow the chicken to marinate for at least 15 minutes.
- If possible, warm your serving plates in the oven at a low temperature before plating. The warm plates will help keep this creamy pasta at the perfect temperature while you enjoy every bite!
I can't tell you how many times this spicy chipotle chicken pasta recipe has saved dinner at our house when I needed something quick but impressive. The combination of creamy, smoky sauce with tender pieces of chicken and fresh vegetables creates a flavorful pasta dish that feels special enough for company but simple enough for weeknights. The leftovers (if there are any!) might even taste better the next day as the flavors continue to meld together. Feel free to customize with your favorite vegetables or adjust the spice level to suit your taste – cooking should be fun and flexible!
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