This Creamy Chicken and Chorizo Pasta Recipe is an easy weeknight meal that your family will love. Pasta is mixed with diced chicken, ground chorizo, red bell peppers, roasted red peppers, diced tomatoes, cream and Parmesan cheese to create a flavorful, comforting pasta dish. The leftovers taste even better! 

      

CREAMY CHICKEN AND CHORIZO PASTA RECIPE

In the fall when my kids are in school and sports are in full swing I am always looking for an easy weeknight meal that will feed the whole family. 

This Creamy Chicken and Chorizo Pasta Recipe is a crowd pleaser, easy to make and will feed your family.

I often have leftovers and I think they taste even better a day or two later. 

Today’s chicken and chorizo pasta is often in rotation with this One Pot Enchilada Pasta, One Pot Orecchiette with Sausage and Broccoli, One Pot Chickpea Kale Pasta and this One Skillet Cheesy Hamburger Pasta. 

I really enjoy the combination of the chicken with the chorizo.

I don’t cook with chorizo that often but when I do I am reminded of how much flavor it adds to recipes. 

If chorizo isn’t your thing you can try ground sausage, pork, turkey or beef in its place or just do the chicken. 

I love the flavors from the spices, roasted red peppers and fresh herbs to finish it off.

I added cream and Parmesan cheese to make a creamy tomato sauce but you can leave those out to make it dairy-free. 

WHY YOU WILL LOVE THIS CHICKEN AND CHORIZO PASTA:

EASY TO MAKE: You will love how easy this weeknight meal can be on your table. It involves sautéing the vegetables and meat, cooking the pasta and combining everything. It comes together in under 30 minutes! 

IT’S EASY TO MODIFY: This is a great base recipe for so many additions. Some I like is to add goat cheese, vegetables like carrots, celery or broccoli, other protein like ground turkey, sausage or pork or adding greens like spinach or arugula. 

MAKES A BIG BATCH TO LAST THE WEEK: When I make this recipe it makes a big batch with plenty of leftovers for the week. I actually think the leftovers taste better the next day or two! 

RECIPE INGREDIENTS AND SUBSTITUTIONS:

PASTA

VEGETABLES: RED BELL PEPPER, DICED TOMATOES, ONION AND ROASTED RED PEPPERS

GARLIC CLOVES

SPICES: ITALIAN SEASONING, PAPRIKA AND CAYENNE RED PEPPER

BONELESS SKINLESS CHICKEN BREAST

GROUND CHORIZO SAUSAGE {TRY TO FIND SPANISH CHORIZO}

TOMATO PASTE

DICED TOMATOES

HEAVY CREAM

PARMESAN CHEESE

HOW TO MAKE THIS RECIPE:

COOK PASTA: In a large pot bring water a boil over medium high heat. Once boiling add the pasta and cook until al dente reserving 1/2 cup of pasta water.

While the pasta cooks heat a large skillet add 2 tbsps. olive oil over medium-high heat.

SAUTE VEGETABLES AND MEAT: Add the onion with the Italian seasoning, paprika and cayenne red pepper and sauté for 2 minutes.

Add the red bell pepper and garlic and sauté for 4 more minutes.

Add the roasted red peppers, the cubed chicken and the chorizo and cook for another 8-10 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and the chorizo is no longer pink.

ADD TOMATO PASTE AND DICED TOMATOES: Add the tomato paste and diced tomatoes and mix well.

SIMMER: Turn the heat to low and simmer the sauce for 10 minutes.

ADD CREAM: Stir in the cream and the pasta and mix well to create a creamy sauce. If the pasta is too thick you can stir in some of the reserved pasta water.

Serve with fresh Parmeasn cheese and fresh parsley.

MODIFICATIONS FOR THIS CHICKEN CHORIZO PASTA RECIPE:

PASTA:  This recipe uses butterfly shaped pasta but you can use other pasta shapes. I especially like medium pasta like penne pasta, rigatoni, penne, rotini or cavatappi. If you like smaller pasta try orzo or elbow macaroni. 

VEGETABLES: You can bulk up this pasta dish and add nutrition by adding vegetables. Try broccoli, green beans, carrots, celery, mushrooms, red onion, jalapeno peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, asparagus or peas. 

GREENS: I like adding greens to pasta like spinach, arugula or kale. Just add it in while you are simmering the pasta dish and the greens will wilt. 

CHEESE: Top your pasta with mozzarella, goat cheese, freshly grated Parmesan or Pecorino Romano.

HERBS: Fresh herbs can take your pasta to the next level like fresh basil, parsley, dill or oregano. 

SPICES: Adding different spices can help create different flavors in this dish. Try adding Greek seasoning, oregano, smoked paprika, italian herbs, chilli flakes, dill, cajun seasoning or thyme. 

PROTEIN: Change up the protein like adding grilled chicken, shrimp, ground beef, spicy chorizo, Italian sausage, or tofu.

TOMATO: You can use tomato sauce or tomato puree in place of the diced tomatoes. 

WHAT TO SERVE WITH THIS CHICKEN CHORIZO PASTA:

I always like to serve a big salad when I make pasta dishes. Some of my favorites are this Lemon Arugula Salad, Simple Kale Salad, or this Lemon Brussels Sprout Slaw.

Side dishes are also great with pasta like these Roasted Balsamic Mushrooms, Roasted Balsamic Brussels Sprouts, Balsamic Roasted Carrots or this Roasted Parmesan Garlic Cauliflower.  

I also really like serve this pasta with a loaf of Italian bread along with olive oil for dipping or garlic bread.

For dessert this meal would pair perfectly with tiramisu, cannoli, or gelato for an authentic Italian experience.

OTHER EASY PASTA RECIPES YOU MIGHT LIKE: 

LEMON RICOTTA PASTA

LEMON WHITE BEAN PASTA

SPICY SAUSAGE PASTA

LEMON PASTA

CAPRESE PASTA

BUTTERNUT SQUASH PASTA

CAJUN PASTA WITH CHICKEN SAUSAGE AND SHRIMP