Spicy Chicken Chipotle Pasta
Spicy Chicken Chipotle Pasta is so packed full of delicious flavors and goodies, you do not want to miss out. With our copycat recipe, you can easily make Cheesecake Factory’s pasta at home to enjoy any time you have a craving.
Cheesecake Factory Spicy Chicken Chipotle Pasta Copycat
There’s nothing quite like the Cheesecake Factory’s famous pasta dishes.
Now with our copycat recipe, you can easily make the Cheesecake Factory’s Spicy Chicken Chipotle Pasta at home simply by following our easy step-by-step instructions below.
What is Spicy Chicken Chipotle Pasta
Our recipe for Spicy Chicken Chipotle Pasta is based on the Cheesecake Factory’s original recipe.
This dish features penne pasta with honey-glazed chicken, asparagus, and peas covered in a delicious spicy cream sauce, and is topped with optional cilantro, and strip tortilla chips.
This recipe can make a quick and easy meal, that is packed full of delicious goodies and flavor.
The great thing about this recipe, besides it being a delicious dish, is that it can be made quickly, or even made in advance if you want.
Let’s look at the specifics of this recipe.
Cheesecake Factory Spicy Chipotle Chicken Pasta
Spicy Chicken Chipotle Pasta Ingredients
Penne Pasta. Penne pasta is used as the basis for this pasta dish. Although the Cheesecake Factory uses penne pasta, you can substitute it with other types of pasta if you wish.
Asparagus. Fresh asparagus is one of the key ingredients for this recipe. You will want to blanch the asparagus to cook it before adding it to the dish.
Lemon juice. Although not required, we recommend that you marinate the chicken in a bit of lemon juice and seasonings before cooking it. Using lemon juice will help to enhance the overall flavor of your chicken.
Garlic salt. One of our favorite ways to season chicken is to use a basic garlic salt mixture. You can pick up garlic salt at your local grocery store, then simply sprinkle it onto the chicken along with the lemon juice to marinate before cooking the chicken.
Chicken. You can choose to use any cut of chicken for this recipe. We recommend using chicken breast, or any other type of chicken that has had the skin and bone removed. Simply cut the chicken into approximately 1-inch cubes then marinate before cooking.
Honey. The Cheesecake Factory’s honey glaze on the chicken is one of the iconic parts of this dish. Using honey as a glaze for your cooked chicken will help give the dish a delicious flavor and combine a slightly sweet flavor with the spicy pasta.
Butter. We recommend that you use a little bit of butter to sauté the vegetables in. However, if you wish to substitute butter for oil, this will work out well also.
Peppers. Red and yellow bell peppers are what is used in the original Cheesecake Factory dish. You will want to finely dice peppers into bite-sized pieces.
Peas. For the best results, we recommend that you use fresh or frozen peas in this pasta dish. There is no need to pre-cook the peas, you simply add them to the cooked pasta dish as you finish making it.
For this reason, we recommend using frozen peas for the best overall result. Do not use canned peas.
Garlic. Minced garlic adds a delicious flavor to this dish. You can use fresh garlic cloves and mince them yourself or you can buy pre-minced garlic from the grocery store.
Onion. Finely diced onions included in this dish will also help to give a lovely flavor. We recommend using white or yellow onions in this dish.
Spicy Chipotle Parmesan Cream Sauce
Heavy cream. Heavy cream works well as the base for this pasta dish. If needed you can substitute heavy cream for half and half, or whole milk for a lighter fat content.
However, to get the nice creamy flavor, you will want to use heavy cream for the base of the sauce.
Parmesan Cheese. Grated Parmesan cheese also is added to the sauce to make it nice and cheesy. You can use canned grated Parmesan cheese, or you can grate your own cheese.
Adobo Sauce. You can use canned adobo peppers to get a little adobo sauce from the can. This will help to add heat and flavor to your pasta sauce.
You can find canned adobo peppers in most grocery stores in the Mexican section.
Optional Garnish
Cilantro. Using fresh or dried cilantro is an optional ingredient for this pasta dish.
The cilantro is primarily used as a garnish for the dish and can add extra flavor. It is entirely up to you if you want to add cilantro or not.
Strip Tortilla Chips. Strip tortilla chips also make a beautiful garnish for your prepared pasta dish. You will want to add these tortilla chips to the dish right before it is served.
You can make your own chips using corn tortillas and deep frying them, or you can purchase strip tortilla chips at the store.
How to Make Spicy Chicken Chipotle Pasta
Marinate the chicken. Cut your chicken into approximately 1-inch cubes, and marinate with garlic salt and lemon juice.
Now start making the dish by bringing water to a boil, and add your chopped asparagus. Boil for three or four minutes, then remove the asparagus and add it to ice water for 30 seconds to 1 minute.
Add asparagus into a colander and allow it to drip dry. Once drained, add to a large mixing bowl.
In another pot, bring water to a boil, and add your pasta. Boil until the pasta is just shy of being al dente. Drain the pasta. Combine with blanched asparagus.
Into the pan add your marinated and cubed chicken. Cook until the chicken reaches the internal temperature of 165°F and is fully cooked.
Combine chicken with honey, and stir to glaze. Remove the chicken from the burner, and add to the pasta and asparagus mixture.
In a pan over medium heat, melt butter. When the butter is melted, add diced red and yellow bell peppers, garlic, and onion. Sauté over medium heat until the onions are translucent. Remove from the burner and add to the chicken, pasta, and asparagus mixture.
Now to make the sauce. In a deep pan, combine heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, and adobo sauce. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring continually for 3 to 4 minutes or until the mixture is warmed and the cheese is melted.
Into the mixture, add the contents from your mixing bowl, including cooked pasta, blanched asparagus, cooked honey-glazed chicken, and sautéed vegetables.
Stir so that the entire mixture is coated in your creamy sauce. Keep over medium heat until the entire dish is warmed through.
Add frozen peas, stir to combine, and heat just until the peas are warmed.
Plate the pasta onto your serving dishes, and top with cilantro and strip tortilla chips as desired. Serve right away and enjoy!
Tips and Tricks
Slightly undercooked pasta. When you slightly undercook the pasta, this helps prevent pasta from becoming overcooked once the whole dish is combined and heated. You will want to be careful that you don’t majorly undercook the pasta, as it will only continue cooking a little bit longer.
Use frozen peas. We recommend that you use frozen peas for the best results in this recipe. You can use fresh peas if desired, but we do not recommend that you use canned peas at all. Frozen peas will help them stay firm, and not overcook.
Thin asparagus. The freshness and thinnest asparagus will work the best for this recipe. When you steam asparagus it does not take long for it to cook, and has a nice tender texture to it.
How To Store And Reheat
Storage
Room Temperature. We recommend that you do not allow this prepared pasta dish to remain at room temperature any longer than two hours before it goes bad.
Fridge. To store our recipe for spicy chicken chipotle pasta, we recommend you transfer it to an airtight container or seal it in a plastic storage bag then place it into the freezer for up to 3 to 4 days.
How to Reheat Spicy Chipotle Chicken Pasta
Microwave. The fastest way to reheat this pasta dish is in the microwave. Simply place the leftover pasta in the microwave-safe bowl, cover it with a damp paper towel, and microwave for one to two minutes or until the pasta is warmed through.
Stovetop. You can also reheat the pasta on the stovetop if desired. You may want to add a little extra liquid to the pan and heat it over low heat until it is warmed through.
In the oven. Our favorite way to reheat leftover pasta is in the oven. Transfer it to an oven-safe dish and cover it with a lid or aluminum foil. Bake at 350°F for approximately 10 to 15 minutes or until the pasta is warm.
How to Prepare this Spicy Chicken Pasta Ahead of Time
This dish can be prepared in advance if you would like. However, we recommend only preparing it a day or two in advance and storing it in the fridge, rather than trying to freeze it. We have found that this dish does not freeze very well.
To make Spicy Chicken Chipotle Pasta ahead of time, you can completely prepare the dish, and add it to a casserole dish. We recommend sprinkling a little bit of shredded Parmesan cheese on top, then covering it with a lid, plastic wrap, or aluminum foil. Store in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
When you are ready to reheat the pasta to serve, place it in a cold oven. Then heat the oven to 350°F and allow the pasta to warm for approximately 10 to 20 minutes or until the pasta is warmed through.
Variations to the Recipe
One of the great things about this recipe is that you can easily add or subtract ingredients as you wish. Below are a few variation ideas for you.
Pasta. This dish can easily be prepared with different types of pasta. You can use spaghetti noodles, bowties, or your favorite type of pasta.
Vegetables. This recipe primarily includes peppers, asparagus, and peas. If you want to include other vegetables or substitute any of these for other ones, feel free to do so.
FAQs
What is the Best Pan to Cook This In?
You can use a variety of pans to make this pasta dish in. One of our favorites to use is either a cast-iron or enamel Dutch oven.
If you do not have a Dutch oven, you can simply use a deep pan and a skillet, or whatever you have readily available.
How To Make Spicy Chicken Chipotle Pasta Not Spicy?
The primary source of space in this dish comes from the adobo sauce. If you wish to make it not so spicy, you can leave the adobo sauce out, and instead use a bit of chili powder, cumin, or a pinch of red pepper flakes. This will greatly decrease the amount of space the pasta contains.
What To Serve With Spicy Chicken Chipotle Pasta?
Although the pasta dish can make for a meal in another self, there are a few other delicious foods you can serve alongside the Spicy Chicken Chipotle Pasta if desired. Below are a few of our favorites.
Copycat Cheesecake Factory Spicy Chicken Chipotle Pasta
You can easily make a copycat version of Cheesecake Factory’s Spicy Chicken Chipotle Pasta at home. It is surprisingly easy to make, and can be made in advance, or ready to serve.
We hope you will give this recipe a try and enjoy it as much as we do! Be sure to leave a comment below and let us know what you think of this recipe.
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Spicy Chicken Chipotle Pasta Recipe
Spicy Chicken Chipotle Pasta
Ingredients
- 2 cups Penne Pasta
- 1½ cups Asparagus chopped
- 1 Tbsp Lemon juice
- 1 tsp Garlic salt
- 1 large Chicken breast cut and cubed
- ⅓ cup Honey
- 4 Tbsp Butter
- 2 Peppers Red and Yellow bell peppers
- 1 cup Peas
- 1 Tbsp Garlic
- 1 medium Onion
Spicy Chipotle Parmesan Cream Sauce
- 1½ cup Heavy cream
- ½ cup parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp adobo sauce
- 2 tsp cilantro
- strip tortilla chips to taste
Instructions
- Marinate the chicken. Cut your chicken into approximately 1-inch cubes, and marinate with garlic salt and lemon juice.
- Now start making the dish by bringing water to a boil, and add your chopped asparagus. Boil for three or four minutes, then remove the asparagus and add it to ice water for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Add asparagus into a colander and allow it to drip dry. Once drained, add to a large mixing bowl.
- In another pot, bring water to a boil, and add your pasta. Boil until the pasta is just shy of being al dente. Drain the pasta. Combine with blanched asparagus.
- Into the pan add your marinated and cubed chicken. Cook until the chicken reaches the internal temperature of 165°F and is fully cooked.
- Combine chicken with honey, and stir to glaze. Remove the chicken from the burner, and add to the pasta and asparagus mixture.
- In a pan over medium heat, melt butter. When the butter is melted, add diced red and yellow bell peppers, garlic, and onion. Sauté over medium heat until the onions are translucent. Remove from the burner and add to the chicken, pasta, and asparagus mixture.
- Now to make the sauce. In a deep pan, combine heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, and adobo sauce. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring continually for 3 to 4 minutes or until the mixture is warmed and the cheese is melty.
- Into the mixture, add the contents from your mixing bowl, including cooked pasta, blanched asparagus, cooked honey-glazed chicken, and sauteed vegetables.
- Stir so that the entire mixture is coated in your creamy sauce. Keep over medium heat until the entire dish is warmed through.
- Add frozen peas, stir to combine, and heat just until the peas are warmed.
- Plate the pasta into your serving dishes, and top with cilantro and strip tortilla chips as desired. Serve right away and enjoy!
