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Spicy Chicken Chipotle Pasta is a Cheesecake Factory copycat recipe. This flavorful pasta dish is full of honey glazed chicken, asparagus, peppers, peas, garlic and onion in a spicy chipotle parmesan cream sauce. No need for going out when you can make this at home!
Spicy Chipotle Chicken Pasta
I love a good restaurant copycat recipe. I make TGI Friday’s Jack Daniels Sauce, Noodles & Co. Pesto Cavatappi, and Hard Rock Cafe Twisted Mac & Cheese and now, Cheesecake Factory’s Spicy Chicken Chipotle Pasta.
We finally got a Cheesecake Factory near us but it is popular and the wait time for a table is always insane. Plus, the huge menu overwhelms me.
Knowing that I can make this spicy pasta at home saves me time and money.
This creamy pasta has the perfect blend of heat from the chilis balanced with the sweetness from the honey.
Serve it with some bruschetta with mozzarella or onion dill bread.
Why you’ll love this spicy chicken chipotle pasta recipe
Copycat recipe – Making your own meal at home is so much more satisfying than ordering it out, but this copycat version of the dish is budget friendly!
Simple ingredients – Fresh veggies, juicy chicken, spicy chipotle sauce, and any type of pasta you want.
Easy pasta recipe – Fancy enough for any special occasion, but easy enough to make any night of the week.
Tools you’ll need
- Colander – You’ll need a colander to drain the asparagus and the pasta. I thought having a handle was unnecessary…until I got one.
- Large Skillet – A good skillet with a lid is a kitchen staple.
- Silicone Spatulas – I use these for EVERYTHING. They’re heat safe and great for sauteing.
Ingredients
Below is a list of the ingredients you’ll need to gather to make this recipe. Scroll all the way down for the full recipe card.
- Chicken Pieces – I use boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into small (approx. 1″) chunks). Thighs could also be used.
- Pasta – I use penne but you could really use whichever shape is your favorite. Try to pick one that will grab the sauce.
- Lemon Juice – You’ll marinate the chicken in lemon juice and salt & pepper while you’re preparing the rest of the recipe.
- Honey – Honey is the perfect counterpart to the spicy chili sauce.
- Chipotle Pepper Sauce – You get the sauce from a can of adobo peppers.
- Bell Peppers – Diced yellow and red peppers for flavor (& color!).
- Onion – I use a yellow onion for a milder flavor. White onion will be a bit stronger.
- Garlic – Fresh minced garlic is best but I always keep minced garlic that you buy packed in oil on hand.
- Heavy Cream – Sometimes called whipping cream, this will make the creamy sauce for the pasta. Half & half will work as well.
- Peas – Frozen peas get added at the end. Canned peas will work as well.
- Asparagus – Fresh asparagus cut into small pieces. Try to choose thinner stalks so they cook evenly.
- Parmesan Cheese – Shredded parmesan cheese, but grated will work if that’s what you have on hand.
How to make Spicy Chicken Chipotle Pasta
This section shows you how to make this recipe, with process photos showing the steps to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
- STEP ONE: To a large pot of boiling water, blanch the asparagus, drain, then add the pasta to that same pot to cook until al dente.
- STEP TWO: In a small bowl, marinate the chicken in lemon juice & salt and pepper while you’re preparing the vegetables.
- STEP THREE: To a large skillet, cook the diced peppers and onions in butter until translucent. Remove the vegetables, add olive oil to the pan, and cook the chicken. Once the chicken is cooked, add in the honey.
- STEP FOUR: Add the cooked veggies back to the pan with the chicken, stir, then add in the cream, adobo sauce, and Parmesan cheese, cooking until melted and thickened.
- STEP FIVE: Stir in the cooked pasta, frozen peas, and blanched asparagus, tossing to coat. Top with cilantro and tortilla strips & serve!
How to store it
This pasta will keep 3-4 days in an airtight container in the fridge.
Can I freeze it?
I wouldn’t. Pasta generally doesn’t freeze well.
FAQs
How many calories are in spicy chicken chipotle pasta?
One serving of the Cheesecake Factory version of chicken chipotle pasta is said to have 1,290 calories.
This version has around 900 calories.
Can I use something other than chicken?
Sure. Try shrimp or skip it altogether and make a vegetarian pasta.
Need more pasta recipes? Try these:
Crockpot Chicken Alfredo
Rosa Chicken Pasta Bake
Cheesy Chicken Pasta Skillet
Louisiana Chicken Pasta
Click here to view my entire collection of pasta recipes.
Spicy Chicken Chipotle Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh asparagus chopped; thinner pieces work best
- 12 ounces penne pasta
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into small chunks
- 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 Tablespoons butter
- 1 medium yellow bell pepper diced
- 1 medium red bell pepper diced
- ½ medium yellow onion diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- ¼ cup honey
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 2 Tablespoons chipotle pepper sauce from a can of adobo peppers
- 6 ounces shredded parmesan cheese
- 1 cup frozen peas
- Optional: cilantro and tortilla strips to garnish
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Once boiling, add the asparagus and boil for 2-3 minutes. Remove it from the pot and rinse it with cold water through a strainer to stop the cooking process. Set aside.
- Using that same pot of boiling water, add the pasta and cook until al dente.
- In a small bowl add the chicken, lemon juice, salt and pepper and let marinate as the other vegetables are cooking.
- In a large skillet add the butter and melt on medium heat.
- To the heated skillet, add the bell peppers and onions and cook until translucent.
- Add in the garlic and cook another minute.
- Remove the vegetables from the skillet and add in the olive oil.
- Add the chicken to the pan and brown over medium–high heat.
- Add the honey to the chicken and stir, cooking for about 5 seconds.
- Add the bell pepper and onion mixture back to the pan.
- Stir well, and then add in the heavy cream, adobo sauce, and Parmesan cheese. Cook for 3-4 minutes.
- Add in the cooked pasta, frozen peas, and blanched asparagus.
- Toss everything well to coat with the cream sauce.
- Optional: garnish with cilantro and tortilla strips
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Made this dish a couple of weeks ago. Very, very tasty!! I haven’t ever had the Cheesecake Factory version to compare to, but on its own this was a delicious meal. Only reason for the 4 stars is it did not store/keep well. The leftovers were not nearly as creamy and amazing as the original. We will likely make this again, but a smaller batch so less/no leftovers!
Thank you for reporting back! I haven’t noticed it drying out – do you have a turbo microwave? 😉
Haha! It was probably user error when I made the dish. I tend to overcook things. Either way it was so tasty…I love a dish full of flavor 🙂
Looks yummy I never had this before but I can’t wait to try it! We LOVE spicy things at our house!
Never visited a Cheesecake Factory restaurant so not a clue how this will compare to the original. I’m getting fresh shrimp this weekend and may try this recipe. Being a pepper wimp, I’ll leave out the adobo sauce.
We used to like to visit Cheesecake Factory when we were out of town but now that our town has one, we never go lol
I haven’t tried this dish from Cheesecake Factory, but it sure looks yummy! I love spicy foods and would use chicken in it.
I haven’t been to Cheesecake Factory in YEARS, but this looks like something I would have eaten. I’m a sucker for anything chipotle. I think I’d go for chicken, but intrigued by the shrimp.
I havent tried the cheesecake factory version, but I will try this as soon as I get the ingredients. I like spicy, but not too strong and I will use chicken, but shrimp sounds yummy too. Love your recipes!
I made it for a special occasion that I had to serve dinner and it was delicious, didn’t change anything and everything came out perfect, that the guests asked for seconds and there was enough to go as well, thanks.
Thanks, Hector! Happy to hear that 🙂