Print

Creamy Spicy Chicken Fajita Pasta

creamy spicy chicken fajita pasta - featured image
Print Recipe

A quick and easy creamy spicy chicken fajita pasta with colorful veggies and a smooth, flavorful sauce. Perfect for weeknight dinners or family gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, thinly sliced
  • 8 oz penne or rigatoni pasta
  • 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
  • 1 yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
  • 1 green bell pepper, thinly sliced
  • 1 medium yellow onion, thinly sliced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tbsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • ½ tsp cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1 cup (240 ml) low sodium chicken broth
  • ½ cup (120 ml) heavy cream
  • 4 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
  • 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro (optional, for garnish)
  • 1 small lime, juiced

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 8 oz of penne and cook according to package instructions until al dente (9-11 minutes). Drain and set aside, reserving ½ cup pasta water.
  2. While pasta cooks, thinly slice chicken breasts and pat dry.
  3. In a small bowl, combine chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin, cayenne pepper, and salt to make fajita seasoning.
  4. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil and 1 tbsp butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and sprinkle half the fajita seasoning. Cook 5-6 minutes until browned and cooked through. Remove chicken and set aside.
  5. In the same skillet, add remaining olive oil and butter. Add sliced onion and bell peppers. Sprinkle remaining fajita seasoning and sauté 5-7 minutes until tender but crisp.
  6. Add minced garlic and cook 1 minute until fragrant.
  7. Pour in chicken broth and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low and stir in heavy cream and softened cream cheese. Whisk until smooth.
  8. Return chicken and drained pasta to skillet. Toss to coat in sauce. Add reserved pasta water as needed to loosen sauce.
  9. Sprinkle shredded cheese over pasta and stir until melted. Squeeze lime juice over dish and stir.
  10. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Garnish with chopped cilantro before serving.

Notes

Pat chicken dry for better sear. Soften cream cheese before adding to sauce to avoid lumps. Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency. Adjust cayenne pepper to control heat level. Use gluten-free pasta and broth for gluten-free version. Leftovers keep well for 3 days refrigerated; reheat gently with added broth or cream.

Nutrition

Keywords: chicken fajita pasta, creamy pasta, spicy chicken pasta, easy dinner, weeknight meal, colorful veggies, fajita seasoning

Find it online: https://forkifyfun.com/creamy-spicy-chicken-fajita-pasta-recipe-easy-colorful-veggie-meal/