Chipotle Pasta* Recipe

Cook pasta

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the penne and cook according to package instructions until al dente (about 10–11 minutes). Reserve 1 cup of pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta and set aside.

Sauté aromatics

Meanwhile, heat 1 tbs olive oil and the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and a pinch of salt, cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, about 5–6 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook 30–45 seconds until fragrant.

Build chipotle tomato sauce

Stir in the minced chipotle peppers, smoked paprika and tomato paste. Cook 1–2 minutes, stirring, until the paste darkens slightly. Add the crushed tomatoes and 3 tbs broth to thin; stir to combine. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook 6–8 minutes to meld flavors. Taste and add salt and pepper.

Finish sauce with cream and cheese

Lower heat and stir in the heavy cream and grated Parmesan until the cheese melts into the sauce. If sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water 1/4 cup at a time to reach a creamy consistency.

Combine pasta and sauce

Add cooked pasta to the skillet and toss to coat thoroughly over low heat for 1–2 minutes so pasta absorbs sauce. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed.

Cook bacon (if using)

If using bacon, in a separate pan, cook chopped bacon over medium heat until crisp, 6–8 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate, reserve 1 tablespoon fat for sautéing chicken or corn if desired.

Cook chicken (if using)

Pat diced chicken dry, season lightly with salt and pepper. In the pan with reserved bacon fat or 1 tbs olive oil, cook chicken over medium-high heat until browned and cooked through, about 5–7 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.

Warm beans and corn (if using)

If using corn and black beans, add corn to the chicken pan and cook 2–3 minutes until warmed and slightly charred. Add black beans just to heat through, 1–2 minutes. Combine the cooked chicken, bacon, corn and beans into the sauce when combining pasta, tossing to distribute evenly.

Taste the pasta and adjust heat. If you want extra spice, stir in red pepper flakes or additional minced chipotle to taste. Sprinkle chopped cilantro and finely chopped red onion over the finished pasta. Grate extra Parmesan on top and serve with lime wedges to squeeze over each portion.

Serve

Divide the pasta among plates or bowls (serves 4). Offer lime wedges and extra Parmesan at the table.