Creamy Chipotle Chicken Pasta combines tender chicken thighs seasoned with cumin, salt, and pepper seared until golden, tossed with penne pasta, bell peppers, onions, and asparagus in a smoky-spicy cream sauce blended from half-and-half, chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, garlic, and honey, finished with Parmesan and lemon juice.
You’ll love this dish because it delivers bold chipotle heat balanced by creamy richness and bright vegetables, creating a restaurant-quality pasta that’s quick enough for weeknights yet impressive for guests.
Ingredients
- 8 oz. boneless, skinless Chicken Thighs (or Chicken Breasts)
- Salt + cracked Black Pepper
- 1/2 tsp. ground Cumin
- 1 tbsp. Olive Oil
- 3/4 cup Half and Half (or Heavy Cream)
- 2 Garlic Cloves
- 1 large Chipotle Pepper (or two small peppers)
- 1 tsp. Adobo Sauce (from the chipotle pepper can)
- 1 tsp. Honey
- 1/3 cup finely chopped Yellow Onion (or white onion)
- 1/2 cup finely chopped Yellow Bell Pepper
- 1/2 cup chopped Asparagus Spears
- 8 oz. dried Penne Pasta
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan
- 1 tbsp. fresh Lemon Juice
- 1/2 cup reserved Pasta Water
- chopped Green Onion for garnish
Instructions
- Season chicken thighs with salt, pepper, and cumin; set aside.
- Blend half-and-half, garlic, chipotle pepper, adobo sauce, honey, and salt into smooth cream sauce; reserve.
- Sear chicken in olive oil over medium heat 3-4 minutes per side until 165°F; rest and chop.
- Sauté onions and bell peppers in same pan 5-6 minutes, scraping browned bits.
- Boil penne in salted water al dente (1 minute less than package).
- Add asparagus to vegetables; cook 3-4 minutes until tender.
- Pour in chipotle cream sauce; simmer 5-6 minutes until thickened.
- Toss in cooked pasta to coat; add chopped chicken, Parmesan, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and pasta water to reach creamy consistency.
- Garnish with green onions and extra Parmesan; serve hot.
Tips for Success
- Blend sauce smooth for even chipotle distribution.
- Cook pasta al dente to finish in sauce.
- Reserve pasta water to perfect sauce consistency.
- Use thighs for juicier results over breasts.
- Taste sauce before adding pasta; adjust spice with extra adobo.
Delicious Variations
- Swap penne for fettuccine or rigatoni.
- Add mushrooms or spinach with vegetables.
- Use shrimp instead of chicken.
- Make it spicier with extra chipotle peppers.
- Top with avocado slices or cilantro.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can it be made dairy-free?
Use coconut cream and vegan Parmesan.
Make ahead option?
Prepare sauce and chicken ahead; toss with fresh pasta.
Spice level adjustable?
Start with half chipotle pepper; add more to taste.
Storage time?
Refrigerate airtight 3-4 days; reheat with splash of cream.
Gluten-free?
Use gluten-free pasta and check adobo sauce.
Print
Creamy Chipotle Chicken Pasta
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
Tender chicken thighs seared golden, tossed with penne, bell peppers, onions, and asparagus in smoky-spicy cream sauce made from half-and-half, chipotle peppers, adobo, garlic, and honey, finished with Parmesan and lemon.
Ingredients
8 oz. boneless, skinless Chicken Thighs (or Chicken Breasts)
Salt + cracked Black Pepper
1/2 tsp. ground Cumin
1 tbsp. Olive Oil
3/4 cup Half and Half (or Heavy Cream)
2 Garlic Cloves
1 large Chipotle Pepper (or two small)
1 tsp. Adobo Sauce
1 tsp. Honey
1/3 cup finely chopped Yellow Onion
1/2 cup finely chopped Yellow Bell Pepper
1/2 cup chopped Asparagus Spears
8 oz. dried Penne Pasta
1/4 cup grated Parmesan
1 tbsp. fresh Lemon Juice
1/2 cup reserved Pasta Water
chopped Green Onion for garnish
Instructions
Season chicken with salt, pepper, cumin.
Blend half-and-half, garlic, chipotle, adobo, honey, salt into smooth sauce.
Sear chicken in oil 3-4 minutes per side to 165°F; chop.
Sauté onions, peppers 5-6 minutes in same pan.
Boil penne al dente; add asparagus to veggies 3-4 minutes.
Add sauce; simmer 5-6 minutes thickened. Toss in pasta, chicken, Parmesan, lemon, pasta water. Garnish.
Notes
Use boneless skinless thighs or breasts.
Adjust chipotle for spice preference.
Reserve pasta water for saucing.
Sear chicken properly for flavor.
Serve immediately for best texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Dish, Pasta
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mexican-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 550
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 28
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 48
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 32
Keywords: creamy chipotle chicken pasta, spicy chicken penne, chipotle cream pasta, smoky chicken pasta recipe, weeknight chipotle pasta
