Indulge in this comforting and flavorful pasta dish, a home-cook replication inspired by The Cheesecake Factory's famous Spicy Chicken Chipotle Pasta.
Prep: 20 min
Cook: 30 min
Total: 50 min
4 servings
Ingredients
12 oz penne pasta
1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp smoked paprika
1/2 tsp garlic powder
Salt and black pepper to taste
1 tbsp butter
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
1/2 green bell pepper, thinly sliced
1/2 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 (7 oz) can chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (use 2-3 peppers and 1 tbsp adobo sauce, or more/less to taste, finely chopped)
1 cup chicken broth
1.5 cups heavy cream
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro, plus more for garnish
2 green onions, sliced (white and green parts), for garnish
Instructions
1
Cook penne pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain.
2
While pasta cooks, season chicken pieces with cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.
3
Heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
4
Reduce heat to medium. Add butter to the same skillet. Add sliced red onion, green bell pepper, and red bell pepper. Sauté for 5-7 minutes until vegetables are tender-crisp.
5
Add minced garlic and finely chopped chipotle peppers (and adobo sauce) to the skillet. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
6
Pour in chicken broth and bring to a simmer, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Let it simmer for 2-3 minutes to reduce slightly.
7
Stir in heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer. Cook for 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens slightly.
8
Add the cooked chicken and drained pasta back into the skillet with the sauce. Stir in 1/4 cup fresh cilantro.
9
If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water until desired consistency is reached. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed.
10
Serve hot, garnished with extra fresh cilantro and sliced green onions.
Nutrition Facts
850 kcal
Calories
55g
Protein
60g
Carbs
45g
Fat
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Make it vegan, keto, allergen-free, or adjust servings with AI.
