Minute Spicy Chicken Chipotle Pasta
🔥 30-Minute Spicy Chicken Chipotle Pasta
Smoky, creamy, and spicy with tender chicken and perfectly sauced pasta—this is comfort food with a kick, ready in just 30 minutes.
🛒 Ingredients
Protein & Pasta:
- 1 lb chicken breasts (boneless, skinless), cut into bite-sized pieces
- 12 oz pasta (penne, rigatoni, or spaghetti)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Salt & pepper to taste
Seasoning Mix:
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp chili powder (adjust to taste)
Sauce:
- ½ cup chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, minced (use less for milder heat)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup chicken broth
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Optional: reserved pasta water for thinning
Garnish:
- Fresh cilantro (optional)
- Lime wedges (optional)
🔪 Instructions
1. Cook the Pasta
- Boil pasta in salted water until al dente (about 9–11 minutes).
- Reserve ½ cup of pasta water, then drain and set pasta aside.
2. Cook the Chicken
- Season chicken with paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Cook chicken 5–7 minutes until browned and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
3. Make the Chipotle Cream Sauce
- In the same skillet, add the minced chipotle peppers in adobo and cook for 1 minute.
- Pour in cream and broth, stir well, and simmer for 3–4 minutes until slightly thickened.
4. Combine Pasta, Chicken & Sauce
- Return chicken to the skillet, then add cooked pasta.
- Toss everything together to coat with sauce. Add reserved pasta water a bit at a time if the sauce is too thick.
- Stir in Parmesan cheese and mix until melted and creamy.
5. Finish and Serve
- Taste and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, or more chili powder if desired.
- Garnish with chopped cilantro and a squeeze of lime juice if using.
- Serve hot!
✅ Quick Tips
- Less spicy? Use 1 chipotle pepper or scrape out the seeds.
- Creamier? Add cream cheese or more Parmesan.
- Swap the protein: Try shrimp, tofu, or rotisserie chicken for quick alternatives.
- Add veggies: Spinach, corn, or bell peppers blend in beautifully.